Russia breaks daily COVID-19 infections, death record

Russia broke its daily COVID-19 infections and death record on Friday, reaching another grim milestone as the country continues to struggle getting the virus under control.   

Russia’s coronavirus task force said the country saw 37,141 new COVID-19 infections and 1,064 coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

The previous 24-hour death toll record in Russia was broken Wednesday with 1,028 deaths, although it was one of  multiple times the grim milestone was reached in October. 

Russia’s government implemented country-wide coronavirus restrictions, a move officials have tried to avoid during this surge in the pandemic. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday people around the country will be forced to stop working from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 in order to slow the spread of the virus.

Some regions that are hit particularly hard by the virus will have to abide by the stay-at-home policy longer. 

“Our task today is to protect life and health of our citizens and minimize the consequences of the dangerous infection,” Putin said.

“To achieve that, it’s necessary to first of all slow the pace of contagion and mobilize additional reserves of the health care system, which is currently working under a high strain,” he added.

Russia’s vaccination numbers are low even after the country approved its vaccine last August. Russia was the first country to approve a vaccine for use. 

As of Wednesday, only 32 percent of Russia’s population was fully vaccinated against the virus. 

“There are only two ways to get over this period — to get sick or to receive a vaccine,” Putin said, according to the wire service. “It’s better to get the vaccine, why wait for the illness and its grave consequences? Please be responsible and take the necessary measures to protect yourself, your health and your close ones.”