Russia: COVID-19 cases fall for 7th straight day

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The number of COVID-19 cases in Russia has been dropping over the last seven days from daily growth of 7,972 last Friday to 7,113 reported on Thursday.

The total infections reached 613,994 with active cases accounting for about a third of this number, according to the data by the country's emergency task force.

Recoveries rose by 6,342 since yesterday up to 375,164, it added.

Twice this week, daily fatalities dropped below 100, to 95 on June 21 and to 92 over the last 24 hours.

In his address to the nation on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country managed to make the outbreak "recede" and "reach a turning point". But he also warned the citizens "to remain focused, careful, and alert, especially until the mass production of an effective preventive medicine begins".

Putin stressed that the coronavirus figures are still high in a number of Russian regions, including Tyva, Karachay-Cherkessia, the Yamalo-Nenets, and Khanty-Mansi autonomous areas.

Russia uses testing as one of the preventive measures, the president said, claiming that Russia is carrying out more tests per 1,000 patients compared to the world’s other major countries.

Currently, 14 Russian federal scientific centers are working on a vaccine against the virus, which is required to be effective, reliable, and safe for people of all ages and in all states of health.

Since originating in China last December, the pandemic has claimed over 482,900 lives in 188 countries and regions.

More than 9.44 million cases have been reported worldwide, while over 4.75 million patients have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.