THIS year, the celebration of New Year and Christmas in Moscow will be very modest. Russians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7.
At the time of writing, there are no mass events scheduled for celebrations, although skating rinks — the biggest of them is on Red Square — and theatres are open.
As for the standard operating procedure in theatres and concert halls, they must be filled no more than a third of their capacity so that the audience members can maintain physical distancing.
People over age 65 are generally not advised to go to theatres and concerts. They should stay home so as not to expose themselves to the danger of infection.
To discourage them from travelling in the city, all free season tickets were cancelled. Meanwhile, on Dec 5, free vaccination against the coronavirus began in the capital.
70 vaccination centres have been opened in Moscow polyclinics.
The first to be vaccinated were doctors,teachers and social workers. Since Dec 14, more Muscovites from risk groups have been able to sign up for vaccination against the coronavirus.
They are employees from public service centres, cultural institutions, as well as trade and service workers—people who are in contact by the nature of their work with millions of citizens, risk themselves and in case of illness will pose a threat to others.
The opportunity to expand the list of workers who can receive vaccination has appeared due to the receipt of a new batch of vaccines.
You can make an appointment for vaccination through the Internet, at information kiosks of city polyclinics, as well as by calling the phone number of a specific vaccination centre.
Vaccination is voluntary only for people between the ages of 18 and 60. I myself cannot get vaccinated because I am over 60 years old.
The situation is the same even for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said recently he had not yet been vaccinated as it was not yet available to people of his age — the Russian head of state is 68 years old.
He said he would do it later when the vaccine was open to people of his age.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the capital's polyclinics, social services and all utilities will be open on New Year's to provide medicine and food to those who observe their home regime.
The Moscow train will also operate on New Year's Eve to prevent crowds.
The writer, writing from Russia, is a former lecturer at Universiti Malaya