From the MT:
“Moscow
Calls Off Christmas, New Year Celebrations Due to Coronavirus – Mayor”
Moscow will not
hold its traditional Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, Mayor Sergei
Sobyanin announced Wednesday amid record coronavirus infections and deaths in
recent weeks. Earlier that day, Sobyanin suspended mass events and ordered
late-night establishments to close starting from Friday and ending in
mid-January 2021 as part of the latest restrictions to try to stop the spread
of Covid-19. “We have decided to ban
mass cultural events, including major Christmas and New Year events,” Sobyanin
said in an interview with the state-run Channel One broadcaster.
“The New Year
is still far away, but it’s nevertheless obvious that mass events will not be
held,” the mayor said, reiterating comments that the decision was made in
advance to avoid extra spending on late cancellations. The RBC news website,
which first reported on the canceled holiday festivities and markets, said
agencies that organize corporate events have already lost half of their usual
New Year’s Eve customer base. Russia’s coronavirus information center
previously announced that the capital will not hold its monthlong “Journey to
Christmas” festival, though municipal authorities will still put up New Year
decorations and lights for the holidays. Moscow remains the epicenter of
Russia’s coronavirus outbreak with over a quarter of Russia’s 1.83 million
confirmed infections. In separate comments, Sobyanin predicted that the
pandemic will continue to impact the Russian capital’s economy until May 2021.
^ This is not
surprising, but it is still sad. I liked seeing Moscow all decorated from
Christmas and New Year’s. ^
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