ABSTRACT
COVID-19 was first transmitted to Russia by tourists returning from abroad. The lack of the quarantine measures in the first weeks of the outbreak allowed the virus to spread, especially in large cities. Russia faced the consequences of COVID-19 in the second half of March 2020. Travel agencies, the hospitality industry, and retail trade in Russia were affected by the pandemic from February 2020 on. The World Bank has predicted a 6 percent drop in gross domestic product in Russia as a result of the pandemic. As of 31 December 2020, the number of total COVID-19 cases from the beginning of the year was 3,159,297 people. In the middle of March 2020, a Coordination Council under the Government of the Russian Federation was formed to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Council’s goal was to provide cooperation between the central government, governments of the subjects of the Russian Federation, local governments, and different organizations.
