Moscow starts vaccinating elderly against COVID-19

Moscow has started offering a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine to people above the age of 60, after Russia's health ministry cleared it for use among the elderly. 

Front-line workers, such as doctors and teachers, were the first in line to get the shots, and until Saturday only those aged 18-60 were allowed to be vaccinated. On Saturday, the health ministry cleared Sputnik V jab for use among those older than 60.  In other developments, new check-in rules have been introduced at hotels in the Moscow region. Guests arriving must now show a negative COVID-19 test result at reception before being allowed to stay. Many schools across the country, including in Oryol region, were empty as children began their Christmas holidays. Russian authorities have reported over three million confirmed coronavirus cases, the fourth highest caseload in the world, and more than 55,000 deaths.