Russia reports record number of new coronavirus infections

Russia on Friday reported its highest daily increase in newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to The Associated Press. 

The government’s coronavirus task force recorded 12,126 infections Friday, bringing the country to a total of nearly 1.3 million cases, with 22,000 deaths. 

According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Russia has the fourth-highest number of reported COVID-19 cases, behind the United States, India and Brazil. 

The AP reported that the Russian government has no plan to impose a second lockdown after the country has already lifted most of the restrictions it had placed on businesses and activities in the spring. 

However, Moscow has encouraged businesses to have one-third of employees work from home, with this month’s school holidays in the capital extended from one to two weeks, according to the AP. 

In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country had become the first in the world to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Russian leader claimed during a government meeting broadcast on state television that the vaccine underwent clinical testing and had proven to offer immunity from the coronavirus. 

However, Reuters noted at the time that the approval was granted by Russian health officials after just two months of human testing. 

The approval of the vaccine came ahead of the start of critical third phase of trials, which normally take months and involve thousands of participants. 

More than 100 possible COVID-19 vaccines are being developed around the world, including four in the U.S., as countries race to come up with a treatment that could stop the spread of the infection.