Coronavirus: Russia’s Putin protected by walk-through ‘disinfectant tunnels’ installed at home and Kremlin
Russian president made his first public appearance last week since May, shaking hands and spurning a face mask
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Your support makes all the difference.Special “disinfectant tunnels” have been installed at the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin’s home to protect the Russian president against Covid-19, according to officials.
The installation of one tunnel at the president’s official Novo-Ogaryovo residence, west Moscow, where Putin has been holding face-to-face meetings, was first reported by the state-backed news agency RIA-Novosti.
It reported that any visitors walking through the tunnel would get showered with “disinfecting aerosol” in a bid to protect Putin from catching the novel disease.
Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that one facility had been assembled at the president’s residence while two had been set up at the Kremlin.
“They were installed when the epidemic was in full swing,” Peskov told journalists on Wednesday. “Extra precautions are justifiable and understandable where the president is concerned”.
Peskov did not confirm whether Putin himself had used the chambers.
There have been reports of similar devices being used in China, India, Mexico and Bosnia although their use is controversial due to concerns about users inhaling chemicals.
In May, the World Health Organisation issued guidance, warning: “Spraying of individuals with disinfectants (such as in a tunnel, cabinet, or chamber) is not recommended under any circumstances.
“This practice could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact.
“Even if someone who is infected with Covid-19 goes through a disinfection tunnel or chamber, as soon as they start speaking, coughing or sneezing they can still spread the virus.”
Last week, Putin attended a public event in Moscow for the first time since early May. His appearance came several days after city authorities lifted the lockdown in the Russian capital, citing a slowdown in new cases.
Putin announced in late May that Russia’s outbreak had peaked and scheduled a Victory Day military parade, postponed because of the pandemic, for 24 June.
“Right now, certain (virus-related restrictions) remain in place as well, even though many of them have been already lifted,” Peskov said.
Russian health officials reported 7,843 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the lowest daily number since late April. The country has a total of 553,301 confirmed cases, the third-highest in the world behind Brazil and the US.
Kremlin critics question the official government statistics and have linked moves to lift public health measures to the Russian government’s desire to boost voter turnout in an upcoming constitutional referendum that would allow Putin to rule until 2036.
Additional reporting by agencies
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