COVID-19 Advisory for Indian nationals living in the Russian Federation

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Indian nationals living in the Russian Federation are requested to follow the following advisories issued by the Russian authorities:

1. Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being (Rospotrebnadzor)

(a) Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of a common (seasonal) flu:

• high body temperature

• headache

• weakness

• cough

• difficulty breathing

• muscle pain

• nausea

• vomiting

• diarrhea

(b) 7 steps to prevent coronavirus infection:

i. Refrain from visiting public places such as shopping malls, sports and entertainment events, and using transport during rush hour;

ii. Use a disposable medical mask in public places, changing it every 2-3 hours;

iii. Avoid close contact and staying in the same room with people who have visible signs of acute respiratory viral infection (cough, sneezing, nasal discharge);

iv. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after returning from outside;

v. Disinfect gadgets, office equipment, and surfaces you touch;

vi. If possible, limit close hugs and handshakes while greeting;

vii. Use only personal hygiene items (towel, toothbrush etc.).

(c) 5 rules for suspected coronavirus infection:

i. Stay at home. If you feel unwell, call a doctor and inform them about your places of stay in the last 2 weeks, and possible contacts. Strictly follow the doctor's recommendations;

ii. Minimize contact with healthy people, especially the elderly and people with chronic diseases. It is better for one person to take care of the patient;

iii. Use a disposable tissue or handkerchief to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. If they are not available, sneeze in the elbow bend;

iv. Use individual personal hygiene items and disposable dishes;

v. Ensure that the room is cleaned with disinfectants and regularly ventilated.

2. Directive issued by the Governor on March 13, 2020:

i. The city of St.Petersburg has been put under “high-alert”;

ii. People who have visited territories where cases of a new coronavirus infection have been registered are required to inform on their return to the Russian Federation, place and dates of stay at the mentioned territories and provide their contact details at 112.

iii. If the first respiratory symptoms appear, immediately seek medical help at home without visiting medical organizations;

iv. People who have arrived from China, Republic of Korea, Italy, Iran, France, Germany, Spain, and other countries with adverse situation related to spread of 2019-nCoV, based on a list approved by the Office of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being (Rospotrebnadzor) in Moscow, must ensure self-isolation at home for a period of 14 days from the date of return to the Russian Federation (do not attend work, study, minimize visits to public places).

v. All employers working on the territory of the city of St. Petersburg are required to:

a) ensure body temperature measurement for employees in the workplace with mandatory removal from the workplace of persons with a high temperature;

b) provide assistance to employees in ensuring compliance with the self-isolation regime at home;

c) immediately provide information about all contacts of the infected person and ensure disinfection of rooms where he stayed following a request from Rospotrebnadzor

3. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued advisories for its citizens to refrain from traveling to China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Hokkaido prefecture of Japan. It has requested Russian nationals in these countries to provide their contact details to the Russian Embassies/Consulates and to register themselves in the mobile app of MFA “Overseas Assistant”.

4. Helpline numbers:

i. Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being of Russia (Rospotrebnadzor) multi-lingual hotline for patients and to get information about COVID-19: 8-800-555-49-43

ii. Consulate General of India, Saint Petersburg 24×7 emergency mobile number for Indian nationals: +7 911 1772281

(March 17, 2020)