UPDATE 2 - Russia registers record number of COVID-19 deaths

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY RUSSIAN HEALTH MINISTER, MOSCOW MAYOR, CHIEF SANITARY OFFICER; ADDS DETECTION OF 1ST DELTA PLUS STRAIN; REVISES DECK, LEDE, GLOBAL FIGURES

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Tuesday recorded 652 more COVID-19 fatalities -- the maximum since the beginning of the pandemic -- pushing the death toll to 134,545, while the country also detected the first case of the Delta Plus variant, according to official statements.

The country has seen a slight drop in the number of coronavirus cases, with 20,616 new infections in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 5.49 million and active cases to 374,975, Russia's coronavirus emergency task force said.

Russia's recoveries from the disease increased by 14,697 to reach 4.98 million since yesterday, it added.

Although Moscow reported fewer cases -- 6,209 -- compared to the day before, the Russian capital is still at the top of the regions with the most infections.

It also accounts for the highest daily fatalities as 121 people died of the virus in Moscow over the past day.

The authorities explain the growing figures by the spread of the so-called Indian Delta strain of COVID-19, which is more contagious, aggressive, and more difficult to treat.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that if it were not for the Delta strain, Moscow would have defeated the outbreak long ago.

According to Sobyanin, the situation in Moscow remains "difficult", more patients are being hospitalized, the number of coronavirus-related lethal outcomes has increased.

At least 182,000 people are being treated in Russian hospitals at the moment, 15,000 of them -- in Moscow, he added.

Last week, officials in several Russian regions, including Moscow and its surrounding Moscow Oblast, ordered mandatory vaccination of several categories of employees, introducing penalties for non-compliance.

Additional measures were announced in the capital Moscow, including restrictions for visiting eateries, entertainment, and sports venues.

- Russia detects 1st Delta Plus strain

The first case of the Delta Plus strain was detected in Russia, Anna Popova, the chief sanitary officer announced on Tuesday.

A woman had a mild form of infection, she was successfully cured, Popova added.

But she also asked Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to ban all kinds of mass events, including political, to contain the spread of COVID-19, saying such events are being held in the regions where the situation does not allow for it.

Popova added that the COVID-19 incidence rate is going up in all regions, with those aged 18-49 the worst-hit group.

- Vaccination

The Russian authorities also try to push the vaccination campaign through social advertisement and educational work as only 11.46% of the Russian population has got a jab against the virus so far.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday the vaccination campaign is picking up some pace and more people are signing up for a jab.

Speaking at a government meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova described the situation in Russia as "unfavorable."

She called on the recovered citizens to get vaccinated in six months term following the recovery, as during this time, the level of antibodies starts decreasing and completely wash out after about a year.

Over 23 million people have so far got the first component of coronavirus vaccines in Russia, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.

Moscow, Moscow Oblast, and the Republic of Chechnya are leading in the vaccination campaign, he added.

Every day, 32 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are delivered to the health establishments throughout Russia, Murashko also noted.

Once the country achieves collective immunity, vaccination against COVID-19 will be carried out once a year, he said.

For his part, Mayor Sobyanin said the situation with the vaccination in the capital is improving as 87,000 people get immunized against COVID-19 daily.

He expressed hope that if Moscow keeps up this dynamics, up to 2 million Muscovites will be vaccinated within one and a half months.

For Russia, over 88 million people should be vaccinated to achieve collective immunity -- when at least 60% of the population is vaccinated -- but the authorities do not expect to achieve it by this autumn, Peskov noted.

The spokesman regretted that the vaccination in Russia moves so slowly although "the state created all the opportunities for that."

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 3.93 million lives in 192 countries and regions, with more than 181.53 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries.