Starting last week, more than 3000 free meals are handed out three times every day to senior citizens over the age of 65 who are quarantined at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Airports of Regions holding company (AR)—of which Renova, owned by Jewish businessman and philanthropist Viktor Vekselberg, is a major shareholder — is preparing the meals. The campaign is set to last at least until the end of April.
The meal sets are prepared on a daily basis by catering services based in Koltsovo (Yekaterinburg), Kurumoch (Samara), Strigino (Nizhny Novgorod) and Platov (Rostov-on-Don) airports. Secluded and isolated under mandatory home quarantine, members of this population group need help more than anyone else, especially since they do not have close relatives who can support them at this time. Meal sets prepared by the airport catering services are a significant contribution in the effort to provide senior citizens in need with nutritious hot meals.
Despite the economic downturn that is hitting the aviation industry and airports in particular, AR is attempting to do its part to help in the public’s efforts to cope with and eventually overcome the pandemic. This initiative is largely driven by a desire to help the most vulnerable population group. AR is cooperating with associations of volunteers as well as with social protection services who are able to identify specific recipients and assume responsibility for delivering the food packages.
Viktor Vekselberg, Chairman of the board of directors of Renova Group, points out that in the situation, where the coronavirus pandemic turns out to be the most serious challenge that the humankind has faced in the 21st century, all must join forces to save human lives – governments, businesses, and public institutions.
The Renova Group is also going to provide many regions in the Russian Federation with more than 50,000 reagent kits to speedily conduct COVID-19 tests designed by the Russian company, Evotech Mirai Genomics (EMG). Beginning this week, the EMG’s reagents will be manufactured at the Sigma Lab facilities in the Skolkovo Technopark’s Common Use Center.
In an attempt by authorities in Russia to contain the coronavirus and protect seniors, citizens above the age of 65 in most regions have been obligated to remain in quarantine from the end of March until May at their respective places of residence or in other facilities like residential buildings and summer houses. Social protection services have been tasked with supporting elderly citizens with the purchasing of medicines and food.
