Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin today announced the introduction of new restrictions due to the "difficult situation" in the city caused by the spread of the delta strain of coronavirus.

As of today, all events with more than 500 people are banned. Restaurants and bars in Moscow will only be open to those who have been vaccinated, those who have had Covid-19 in the past six months or who have tested negative for no more than 72 hours.

In Moscow today are registered 6.555 new cases, and in all of Russia - 16.715 people, which is twice as much as a month ago.

"The decisions we make are difficult, unpopular, but necessary to save people's lives," Sobyanin said.

Due to the sharp increase in the number of infected people two weeks ago, the city authorities ordered mandatory vaccination of retail employees, educators and people employed in the service sector.

Immunization in Moscow is slow, with less than 13 percent of citizens receiving the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.