Coronavirus: Aussie steak man in Moscow lockdown

Cairns-born Sebbie Kenyon, who owns a chain of high-end restaurants in Moscow and Kazan, is, like everyone else in Russia, confined to home.

Australian restaurateur Sebbie Kenyon with his partner Kristina and their son, Iggy, in their apartment in Moscow, Russia

Sebbie Kenyon turned 34 on Wednesday and he celebrated inside his two-bedroom Moscow apartment making a chocolate cake with his 18-month-old son.

The Cairns-born restaurateur, who owns a chain of high-end Steak It Easy restaurants in Moscow and Kazan, is, like everyone else in Russia, confined to home. No trips are allowed outside for exercise, unless it is 100m outside the door to walk a pet.

“Babies and children aren’t pets, so we have to stay inside,’’ Kenyon said, adding that toddler Iggy can’t understand why there is no play in the snow.

At 18 months old, Iggy can’t understand why he no longer gets to play in Moscow’s snow.

There had been a rumour that on April 6 people would be allowed outside, but that has been quashed. The one-week stay at home has been extended to April 13 and Russians are preparing for an even longer edict.

Kenyon has closed nearly all his restaurants, but one has remained open with three chefs for takeaway only.

Streets are deserted. Red Square is empty. The usually packed park across from Kenyon’s apartment is locked. He is awaiting a special permit to allow him to travel between his home and his restaurant. The military is enforcing the lockdown with regular checks at parks and on the streets.

“They don’t mess around here,’’ Kenyon said.

But he says Moscovites are feeling lucky that they have avoided the crisis that has unfolded in Italy and Spain, even if the lockdown happened very quickly.

“The feeling here is that Russia has come late to the party and the Russians really love Italy, and it has really shocked them what is happening there, so there have been no real complaints.’’

The winter food supplies are still aplenty, and the spring vegetables are due in the coming weeks; one family member is allowed out to pick up supplies from the nearest shop. The only other reasons allowed for being outside are to go to a job that is considered essential, to the nearest chemist or pet shop, or the short walk for the dog.

The 1C temperature and snow are helping too; but Kenyon believes the coming weeks, when temperatures are forecast to rise to a balmy 15C, might be problematic.

Kenyon’s partner, Kristina, comes from a remote region of far eastern Russia on the Kamchatka Peninsula and he said her parents had no idea of what has been going on until a day ago.

“They have more chance of being attacked by a bear and they are confused because they have also been told they must stay inside,’’ he said.

Russia has had 31 coronavirus deaths and 3550 infections so far, including the main Moscow hospital chief, Denis Protsenko, who gave President Vladimir Putin a tour of the Kommunarka hospital.

The Russian parliament, with no dissenting voices, has approved Mr Putin’s lockdown measures, which include a seven-year jail term for anyone who breaks the quarantine causing the death of others from the virus.