Covid-19: Russia reported record deaths from Delta variant

The Russian authorities reported this Saturday, for the fifth consecutive day, a record number of coronavirus deaths, amid a drastic spike in infections in recent weeks attributed mainly to Delta variant.

The organization in charge of the fight against the pandemic indicated that in the last 24 hours they were detected 24,439 new positive cases and 697 deaths, bringing the totals to over 5.5 million and 137,262, respectively, according to the Europa Press news agency.

The capital, Moscow, was once again the location with the highest number of infections, with 7,446 cases and 116 deaths, while in St. Petersburg 1,733 infections and 110 deaths were confirmed on the last day.

Yesterday the deputy mayor of Moscow, Anastasia rakova, had indicated that the actual number of cases in the city could be “three or four times” larger, while specifying that “more than 10% of the inhabitants have officially recovered from the disease”.

“Moscow has 25% of cases in the country. If we include asymptomatic cases or people who do not go to the doctor, we can multiply the number by three or four, of course “, he noted, according to the Russian Tass news agency.

He also pointed out that “Since June, there has been another drastic peak in the incidence of the coronavirus” in the city and explained that, “although it is caused by several causes, the main one is the new variant of the virus”, referring to the Delta, first detected in India.

Moscow has imposed in recent weeks measures such as a return to telework for some of the employees, compulsory vaccination in personalized assistance services and created a health pass to go to restaurants.

Nearly 20 Russian regions have reintroduced restrictions, most of which had been lifted since January.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday opposed the imposition of a national vaccination requirement, but called on the Russians to get vaccinated as part of a slow vaccination campaign.