MOSCOW, April 21. /TASS/: Speaker of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Valentina Matviyenko is certain that it will be possible to lift COVID-19 restrictions by the fall in the event of mass vaccination in Russia. At the same time, she did not rule out that COVID-19 could become a seasonal illness in the future.
"I am still certain that, with the development of mass vaccination, herd immunity will be developed by the fall, and the restrictions will be lifted by the fall," she told Russia’s Channel One on Wednesday following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly.
The speaker added though that COVID-19 would not go anywhere and could become a seasonal virus. "That’s why neither the authorities nor citizens should relax," she stressed.
Matviyenko highlighted the need to use modern technology in the healthcare system wherever necessary and ensure equal access to medical care for citizens regardless of their place of residence. "This is a huge layer of work, we will continue," the speaker concluded.
