In St. Petersburg, 20 catering establishments were temporarily closed, which worked at night without requiring visitors to have a QR code. 32 protocols on administrative offenses were drawn up in relation to legal entities, 103 in relation to visitors.
Raids on catering establishments took place on the night of January 21-22, the Main Investigation Department of the RF Investigative Committee for St. Petersburg reported. The check was carried out by investigators, police officers, officials and employees of Rospotrebnadzor with the support of the Russian Guard.
As a result, “numerous violations of the legislation on the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population, as well as in the field of consumer protection” were revealed. The work of all 20 objects was temporarily suspended, the inspectors also seized smartphones, computers, cash registers and documentation from restaurants.
Earlier, the police opened a criminal case due to the spread on social networks of calls for violations by citizens and businesses of the requirements of regulations on measures to counter the spread of coronavirus.
“In particular, about the ban on the operation of public catering facilities from 23:00 to 06:00, as well as the mandatory availability of QR codes, which created a real threat of the spread of coronavirus infection. These calls are directly aimed at violating the sanitary and epidemiological rules,” the IC said in a statement.
Since January 2, a system of mandatory QR codes has been introduced in St. Petersburg. It is necessary to present proof of vaccination against coronavirus or a previous disease in catering establishments and shopping centers. At the same time, QR codes do not need to be shown at the entrance to grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, shops without a trading floor, as well as cafes and restaurants at railway stations and at the airport.
Governor Alexander Beglov earlier announced the worsening of the epidemiological situation in the city and noted that St. Petersburg “waits not just a new wave of coronavirus, but a vertical rise in the incidence.” In St. Petersburg, options for additional measures against coronavirus are being worked out in the event of an explosive increase in the incidence, RIA Novosti reported on January 17, citing Beglov.