Moscow mayor: Coronavirus restrictions will last two months

Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced on Wednesday it could take the Russian capital about two months to lift all coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking during an online meeting with prime minister Mikhail Mishustin  and other officials, Sobyanin said that the situation in Moscow was improving, but the outbreak had not been completely eradicated.

He said restrictions on mass gatherings remain, including theaters, cinemas, concert halls and sporting events. A decision whether to lift them will be made at the beginning of July.

Starting Tuesday, Moscow residents are no longer required to stay at home or obtain electronic passes to travel around the city. All restrictions on taking walks, using public transportation or driving have been lifted as well.

The easing of restrictions also means beauty parlors can reopen. Outdoor terraces of cafes and restaurants, as well as museums and dental clinics, are set to open on June 16.

Kindergartens, gyms and indoor spaces of cafes and restaurants will be allowed to operate starting June 23.

On Wednesday, health officials in the city reported a record low number of 1,195 new infections.

In total, Moscow has so far registered 199,785 confirmed coronavirus cases, 40% of Russia's caseload of over 493,000.