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Coronavirus: Nightmare spreads through Russia's care homes
May 28, 2020
When Alexei Sidnev saw the horror caused by coronavirus in European care homes he knew he had to act fast. Way back in March, before any lockdown in Russia, he began sealing off the six homes he runs near Moscow and buying-up protective clothing for staff.
"I don't sleep much. It's probably the hardest time of my life and I've been through perestroika and all the crises," Mr Sidnev confides, recalling the Soviet Union's reform and eventual collapse.
But while the businessman shares his own trials on social media, the struggle in Russia's state care sector plays out old-style, largely behind closed doors.
"I know of many care homes right now fighting the virus, it's just not public," Mr Sidnev says.
'In our place no-one does autopsies'
The story of a Covid-19 outbreak at the Vishenki home for the elderly in Smolensk, 400km (250 miles) west of Moscow, is one hint at how that wider picture may look.
"What's happening here is a nightmare," a carer told the BBC by telephone, one of dozens from the state-run home who are now off sick after residents and staff caught coronavirus.
At the start of this month, residents and staff began catching Covid-19 at this home in Smolensk.
Image caption Workers at this home in Smolensk say residents were dying of Covid-19 at the start of this month
All those we spoke to asked to remain anonymous because they want to keep their jobs.
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