Russia hits new record for COVID-19 deaths, resists lockdown

Moscow, October 13 (BNA) Russia set a new record for daily deaths from the Corona virus on Tuesday as the country grapples with a rapid increase in infections and delayed vaccination rates, but the authorities were adamant that there would be no new national lockdown.

The government’s coronavirus task force has reported 973 coronavirus deaths, the highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic. Russia has repeatedly set a record daily death toll this month, and daily infections are hovering near an all-time high, with 28,190 new cases reported on Tuesday.

Despite the rapidly mounting losses, the Kremlin has ruled out a nationwide shutdown, delegating the power to make decisions on tightening coronavirus restrictions to regional authorities, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The rising number of infections has added to the strain on Russia’s healthcare system, where hospitals are rapidly filling up. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 11% of the 235,000 COVID-19 patients in hospital are in serious or critical condition.

In all, the Russian task force on coronavirus has recorded more than 7.8 million confirmed cases and 218,345 deaths – the highest number of deaths in Europe. However, the state statistics agency Rosstat, which also counts deaths where the virus was not the main cause, has reported a much higher total – about 418,000 deaths of people with COVID-19.

If that higher figure was used, Russia would be the fourth worst-affected country in the world during the pandemic, after the United States, Brazil and India. Even the low death rate moves Russia to fifth place after Mexico.

READ MORE  Beijing Olympics tickets will not be publicly sold due to COVID-19

The Russian government has blamed the sharp rise in infections and deaths that began last month on the slow rate of vaccination. Only 47.8 million Russians, or roughly 33% of its population of 146 million, have received at least one injection of the coronavirus vaccine, the government said on Friday, and 42.4 million, or about 29%, have been fully vaccinated.

Speaking at a meeting with newly elected Russian lawmakers, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday stressed the importance of widespread vaccination and urged lawmakers to help encourage the population to get vaccinated.

“We must work patiently and persistently with the people and explain all the advantages of preventing this dangerous disease,” Putin said, noting that the population must be persuaded to get injections without resorting to administrative pressure.

Amid a rapid wave of infections, some Russian regions have restricted attendance at large public events and limited access to theaters, restaurants and other venues for people who have been vaccinated, recently recovered from COVID-19 or tested negative in the past 72 hours.

But life remains largely normal in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and many other Russian cities, with businesses operating as usual and mandates loosely concealed. In Moscow, authorities have expanded free coronavirus tests in shopping malls, hoping this will help stop the infection.

RAE

Source link

Leave a Comment