From Monday, the schools in Moscow will be reopened, but the COVID-19 restrictions have been extended until Jan 21 by the government, as notified by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

He also warned that the risk of infection stood high and spotting even one corona case would result in the whole class returning to distance/ online education. "I'll be direct. The decision to cancel distance learning in high schools was very difficult", stated Sobyanin on his website in a blog.

Last month, Russia launched, with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, a voluntary vaccination programme which has been gaining momentum with thousands of people getting vaccinated on a daily basis. Russia has also been resisted the impositions of a strict lockdown and relying on earmarked evaluations.

On Wednesday, Russia reported new 22,850 cases, including 4,320 in Moscow.