Yaroslavl jab drive, Moscow cafes ask for virus status

A circus in the Russian city of Yaroslavl was turned into a vaccination centre from Monday as officials in the region look to boost the coronavirus vaccine roll out.

Queues were seen at the makeshift facility which is offering free tickets to the circus for patients who receive their first jab.

Also on Monday, restaurants and cafes in Moscow began requesting that patrons provide proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test as the Russian capital faces a surge of new infections.

According to a decision by city authorities last week, all Moscow restaurants, cafes and bars must only admit customers who have been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months or can provide a negative coronavirus test from the previous 72 hours.

As proof of vaccination for entering a restaurant, customers must visit a government website and get a QR code, a digital pattern designed to be read by a scanner.

In one concession to desperate restaurant owners city officials agreed that the QR codes aren't needed for the next two weeks at establishments with outdoor terraces.

Underage customers won't have to provide documentation if accompanied by their parents.

The new restrictions come as Moscow has registered infection levels on par with last winter and recorded all-time high daily numbers of coronavirus deaths.