MOSCOW – The daily death toll from COVID-19 in Russia has surpassed 1,000 for the first time as the country faces a sustained surge in infections.
The National Coronavirus Task Force on Saturday reported 1,002 deaths in the previous day, up from 999 on Friday, as well as 33,208 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, more than 1,000 more than the day before.
Russian authorities have tried to accelerate the pace of vaccinations through lotteries, bonuses and other incentives, but widespread skepticism about vaccinations and conflicting signals from officials have hampered these efforts. The government said this week that about 43 million Russians, or about 29% of the country’s nearly 146 million people, are fully vaccinated.
Despite the growing number of casualties, the Kremlin has ruled out new nationwide isolation, such as at the start of the pandemic, which has severely damaged the economy and undermined the popularity of President Vladimir Putin. Instead, he delegated responsibility for enforcing coronavirus restrictions to regional authorities.
Some of Russia’s 85 regions have limited access to major social events and limited access to theaters, restaurants and other venues. However, everyday life in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other cities in Russia is generally normal.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko acknowledged this week that healthcare facilities are under increasing stress, and said the authorities have offered vaccinated retired medics the opportunity to return to work.
Overall, the coronavirus task force has recorded more than 7,958,000 confirmed cases and 222,315 deaths – the highest death rate in Europe. According to official figures, Russia has the fifth largest number of deaths from pandemics in the world after the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.
However, the state statistics agency Rosstat, which also keeps records of deaths in which the virus was not considered the main cause, reported a much higher death toll from the pandemic – about 418,000 people with COVID-19 as of August. Based on this number, Russia will become the fourth country in the world to suffer the most, overtaking Mexico.
