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Russia has the second highest number of coronavirus infections in the world after reporting another 10,899 new cases today, according to an AFP count.
The new cases bring Russia’s total to 232,243, surpassing the number of infections in Britain and Spain and now only behind the United States, which has reported more than 1.3 million, according to the compiled count from official sources.
Russia eased coronavirus restrictions today despite reporting more than 10,000 new cases per day for more than a week.
Authorities say the large number of cases reflects a large testing campaign, with some 5.8 million tests carried out so far.
More than half of the cases have been reported in Moscow and the surrounding region.
With only 2,116 virus deaths reported to date, Russia’s death rate has been much lower compared to other countries with similar infection rates.
Authorities say this is because Russia was able to learn lessons from Western European experiences, acting quickly to isolate travelers and people at risk, convert hospitals to treat patients with viruses, and evaluate and quarantine infected.
But critics have cast doubt on the numbers, accusing officials of underestimating the virus-related deaths by blaming other causes.
Meanwhile, officials threw a probe into the ventilators used in some Russian medical facilities after five coronavirus patients, including three connected to breathing machines, died in a fire at a St. Petersburg hospital.
Authorities said the fire on the sixth floor of Saint George Hospital appeared to have started when one of the fans in his intensive care unit shorted out.
Health authorities said they would check fans at the hospital and those at a Moscow clinic where a fire killed a woman last week.
The head of the intensive care unit at the St. Petersburg hospital, Vladimir Sulima, told reporters that four of the patients had died in the room and three of them were connected to ventilators.
“The staff did everything they could … We feel guilty towards their family members,” Sulima said.
He said they had received the Russian-made breathing machines in early May, adding that the hospital would not use them until the investigation ended.
Health care officials identified the victims as four men and one woman, the youngest of whom was 59 years old.
Prosecutors said the circumstances of the death of the person who was not in intensive care were being clarified.
About 150 people were evacuated from the St. Petersburg clinic, which had been reused to treat patients with coronavirus.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, citing preliminary information, said a short circuit is believed to have caused the fire.
Putin’s spokesman says he has coronavirus
Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he tested positive for the coronavirus and was receiving treatment at the hospital, news agencies reported.
“I am sick. I am being treated,” said Mr. Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies TASS and Interfax, which specified he had Covid-19.
Peskov is the fourth senior government official to have become ill, after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev said they tested positive for the coronavirus.
None of them were reportedly in serious condition, and only Mishustin in the hospital still held some video meetings.
Peskov told the TASS news agency that he was the last in direct contact with Putin “more than a month ago.”
The Russian leader has been staying at his residence outside Moscow for several weeks and is holding meetings and speeches via a video link.
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