On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin gave the authorities five days to establish a system for monitoring people who have come into touch with someone with coronavirus using geolocation data from cell phones.
Under the new program, should they come into contact with someone who has been contaminated, citizens will be sent information and the same information will be passed on to special national offices set up to combat the pandemic.
The Kremlin said the move is legitimate and part of Russia's steps being taken to try to stop the virus spread.
The measure would monitor "citizens in touch with patients with new infection with coronavirus based on information from cellular operators on the geolocation of a specific person's mobile phone."
This "would allow people to be alerted (by telephone) if they were in touch with a person suffering from the new coronavirus, sending appropriate messages to warn them of the need for self-isolation," said the Ministry of Communications in a statement.
Russia, which briefly barred foreigners from entering to restrict the spread of coronavirus, has 438 confirmed infections and one virus-related death less than other countries in Europe.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told residents of the capital over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to remain at home.
Russia is slowly tightening quarantine laws and planning for further cases for its health-care system. Sobyanin advised the elderly and other needy residents that they could only visit pharmacies and food shops from Thursday to April 14, if absolutely necessary.
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