Andrew Osborn and Tom Balmforth

MOSCOW, Reuters – The Russian capital introduced its most stringent COVID-19 related lockdown procedures in over a year Thursday. This was as nationwide pandemic deaths rose to new heights and infected people were inundated in the largest nation in the world.

Moscow has imposed a partial lockdown in which essential shops such as pharmacies, supermarkets, and grocery stores are permitted to stay open, while schools, kindergartens, and public libraries are all closed. It comes after a national shutdown for the entire country that began Oct. 30, lasting for seven days.

Moscow was not the only region to initiate partial lockdowns.

Moscow’s citizens are now allowed to leave their houses, in contrast to a summer 2020 lockdown. But the new measures highlight the growing concern of officials about record-breaking deaths blamed by the Kremlin for vaccine hesitancy.

Officials reported Thursday that there were 1,159 COVID-19 deaths nationwide in the 24 hours prior to the incident. However, the daily infection rate broke the threshold of 40,000 for the first times.

Vyacheslav Vodin, speaker of the State Duma, suggested to all members that they be immunized and suggested that any stragglers work remotely.

Volodin said to the lower house, “Imagine what the consequences would be for our country if Parliament stops working.” He said, “Everyday we see how our… coworkers end up in hospital beds.”

He was met with angry shouts in the Parliament’s Chamber, along with someone calling out “What type of PR?”

Russians often say they don’t want to be vaccinated. They have rejected the four vaccinations Russia registered for them, including the Sputnik V.

Some claim they are afraid of the authorities while others fear the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations.

Official data as of October 22 showed that 49.1million Russians had been fully immunized. Officially, the total Russian population is around 144 millions, exempting annexed Crimea.

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According to the Kommersant daily newspaper, Thursday’s news was that the Kremlin would revamp its troubled public education campaign regarding the importance of being vaccinated.

According to the report, this campaign will pay more attention to Russia’s over 80 regions than before and adopt a much less negative and aggressive tone.

According to it, the campaign highlighted often the death risk for Russians who refuse to get vaccinated. It also linked vaccination with the ability to avoid lockdowns-style restrictions.

The Kremlin said that it did not intend to relaunch its ad campaign but was continually changing the strategy and would continue the campaign.

Russians are now more likely to travel abroad for their holiday than stay at home.

On Thursday, there were mixed reactions to the Moscow streets locked down. Lyubov Makekhina and other residents said they felt it would slow down the spread of infections.

Mikhail, another Muscovite, did not reveal his surname and expressed doubts about the effectiveness of vaccinations without having a greater number of people vaccinated.

“It will do nothing to change my mind. It might slow down the spread of cases a little, but it isn’t going to change anything. “I don’t think it will.”