Makhachkala townspeople treat extension of mask regime as formality

Many Makhachkala residents refuse to wear medical masks in public places and transport, despite the authorities' order on the extension of the mask regime in Dagestan, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported based on his observations.

Dagestani authorities would not soften the existing preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus infection. "The demands for the observance of the mask regime and for the appliance of disinfection measures are still in force," Sergey Melikov, the head of Dagestan, wrote on April 12 in his Telegram channel following the sitting of the operative headquarters for combating coronavirus infection.

In practice, no one monitors the observance of the mask regime in public places in Makhachkala, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who checked the fulfilment of the operative headquarters' demands, got convinced.

In the morning of April 14, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent counted about 30 visitors to the multifunctional centre for the provision of state and municipal services in the Reduktorny dwelling settlement of Makhachkala. At the entrance to the building there was a sticker with a warning "Entry without masks is prohibited", but no one followed the mask regime. Only two people had masks; other visitors and the centre staff failed to use protective means.

The mask regime is practically not observed in the public transport. There were only three passengers wearing masks in 10 shuttle taxis. The driver of only one of these 10 minivans was wearing a mask, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported.

The decision to maintain the mask regime is just formal, said Ziyautdin Uvaisov, the head of the "Patient's Monitor" project. "Nobody wears masks anymore; and no one monitors the compliance with the mask regime. Making decisions that no one follows is a senseless exercise," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 14, 2022 at 06:47 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.