Source: Reuters

MAY 25, 2020 / 5:12 AM
Tom Balmforth, Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin made a rare lockdown appearance in the Kremlin on Monday after officials said improvements in the coronavirus situation may allow Russia to re-open some tourist resorts soon and relax restrictions in many regions.

Russia, which has reported the world’s third most coronavirus cases, confirmed 8,946 new infections on Monday, bringing its nationwide tally to 353,427. Officials reported 92 new deaths, pushing the toll to 3,633.

Moscow, Russia’s worst-hit region, is entering its ninth week of lockdown. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said it is too early to lift restrictions but allowed state registry offices to open in the capital from Monday.

Russia’s borders remain closed, as are schools and most non-essential shops, but Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin urged Russians on Monday not to travel abroad on holiday this summer.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-cases/putin-back-in-kremlin-russia-looks-to-ease-lockdown-in-some-regions-idUSKBN2310P1

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Now we know why Donnie hasn't elbowed all to go Full Reopen: his boss has doubtless told him to cool his heels.

Source: Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that Japan will lift a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas later in the day but that it could be reimposed if the pace of infections picked up.

Social distancing curbs were loosened for most of the country on May 14 as new infections fell, but the government has kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch.

Abe also told a news conference that the total amount of stimulus from two economic packages would exceed 200 trillion yen but it would still take considerable time to get back to normal life while controlling infection risks.

He added that Japan had managed to get the coronavirus infection under control in just one and a half months, in its own way, and that this showed the strength of the “Japan model.”

Japan’s economy minister told reporters earlier on Monday the government had received approval from key advisers to remove the state of emergency for all remaining regions.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-stimulus/japan-lifts-tokyos-state-of-emergency-eyes-fresh-stimulus-idUSKBN2300SW?il=0

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I thought Abe was really conservative. Giving the All-Clear this early strikes me as neither conservative nor wise.