An outbreak that does not end. Russia recorded 679 deaths from Covid-19 this Friday in the past 24 hours, a record for the fourth day in a row when the country is hit hard by the Delta variant. The country has also recorded 23,218 new infections, which is the highest figure since mid-January, when Russia was emerging from a second deadly wave. The capital, Moscow, the main focus of the epidemic, and the country's second city, Saint Petersburg, have recorded 112 and 101 deaths respectively in the past 24 hours. Levels still close to their own records set at the start of the week.
However, the authorities have decided to maintain the holding in Saint Petersburg on Friday of the quarter-final of the Euro football between Spain and Switzerland, to bring together thousands of supporters, especially foreigners.
Likewise, the Kremlin assures us that despite the daily deterioration of the health situation, re-containment is not on the table for the moment.
“Nobody wants lockdowns and
(the question of their introduction)
is not raised.
And for it not to be, we must all get vaccinated as soon as possible, ”Russian presidency spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Read also Covid-19: Putin encourages Russians to be vaccinated but opposes any obligation
The coronavirus epidemic has resumed since mid-June in Russia against the backdrop of a sluggish vaccination campaign.
Launched in December, it has so far convinced only 23.6 of 146 million Russians, or 16% of the population, which remains suspicious of national vaccines.
In several regions, including Moscow, the authorities have taken measures to encourage Russians to be vaccinated, for example with the introduction of a health pass to go to restaurants in the capital.
"The situation is of course tense in several regions", acknowledged Dmitry Peskov, while assuring that the authorities were working "intensely" to fight against "a treacherous enemy, the coronavirus and its new variants".
Relaunch the vaccination campaign
AFP saw long lines at a vaccination point in a Moscow shopping center on Friday morning, with more than 100 people waiting for the injection. Moscow also launched a revaccination campaign on Thursday for those who received their first two doses more than six months ago. They are offered a third injection to further strengthen their defenses against the new variants. The Russian Ministry of Health has indicated that this revaccination is recommended until the country enjoys collective immunity. Then, it will be possible to switch to a “routine revaccination” every 12 months, as with the seasonal flu.
Calling once again on his fellow citizens to be vaccinated, President Vladimir Putin urged Wednesday to "listen to the experts" and not to the rumors about the Covid-19, while opposing a vaccination obligation at the national level.
The Kremlin, which has admitted not being able to reach its goal of 60% vaccinated by August, for the time being refuses any national confinement to preserve a fragile economy.
Across the country, the pandemic has left more than 5.5 million infected and 136,565 dead, according to official figures.
The statistics agency Rosstat, which has a broader definition of coronavirus-related deaths, for its part recorded 270,000 deaths at the end of April.