The Mayor of Moscow has issued two decrees dated 10 April and 11 April 2020, temporarily suspending in-person activity at most businesses and introducing digital pass control to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown within the city of Moscow. The Governor of the Moscow Region issued resolutions on the same dates introducing similar measures within the broader Moscow Region.
Suspension of business activity
From 13 April to 19 April 2020, in Moscow and the Moscow Region, in-person visits to most businesses is suspended. The full list of the areas and businesses is set out in the Mayor's decree and the Governor's resolution. Exceptions are made only for persons who:
- provide protection and maintenance of facilities;
- support continuous manufacturing or technological processes;
- provide payroll services (i.e. calculation and payment of salaries).
In Moscow and the Moscow Region, business activity is suspended in the following areas:
- the automotive industry;
- provision of food and drinks (except for takeaway services and delivery);
- operations involving real estate;
- professional, scientific and technical activities;
- law, accounting, and management consulting;
- architecture and engineering design;
- advertising and market research;
- rental and leasing (including car rental, carsharing services and taxi services);
- employment and staff recruitment;
- tourism;
- education;
- sports, recreation and entertainment;
- provision of personal services;
- production of clothing and furniture;
- construction;
- manufacturing of finished products.
The above restrictions do not apply to:
- providers of goods and services for medical use, personal protective equipment, and disinfectants;
- providers of food essentials;
- organisations performing construction or repair of medical facilities, metro and railway facilities;
- organisations providing passenger transportation services that have permission to carry out these activities within Moscow and the Moscow Region.
Subject to the coordination of the work regime with the federal Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Moscow government, exceptions may also be made for:
- organisations of the defense sector and the aircraft industry;
- subsidiaries of Roscosmos and Rosatom corporations;
- organisations carrying out the state defense order;
- IT providers ensuring the activities of the abovementioned organisations.
Organisations that continue working must minimise the need for employees to be physically present to carry out the relevant activities, in accordance with technological features.
Digital lockdown pass system
The Mayor and the Governor have also issued decrees implementing a digital pass system for movement by personal and public transport in Moscow and the Moscow Region. From 15 April, such movement is possible only with a digital pass or an official identification card (e.g. a military identification card or a personal security card).
Digital passes can be either for one day (e.g. for visiting a medical provider), or without restrictions on the number of trips for performing employment duties or providing services (performing works) under civil law contracts.
Employers should bear in mind that:
- For movement using any type of transport, employees must obtain digital passes.
- Employees may obtain the pass in Moscow by applying to mos.ru, by calling the help desk at +7 495-777-77-77, or by sending a text message to 7377. In the Moscow Region, the pass can be obtained by applying on the website uslugi.mosreg.ru, by calling the help desk at 8-800-550-50-30, or by sending a text message to 0250.
- Employees' passes are valid until 30 April 2020, with no restrictions on the number of trips or the route of movement.
The digital pass issued in the city of Moscow is also valid in the Moscow Region. Accordingly, the pass issued in the Moscow Region may be used for travelling on routes involving a visit to Moscow.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
