Russia sets another record for daily COVID-19 deaths

Russia reported another record for daily coronavirus deaths on Saturday, The Associated Press reported.  

Russia’s national coronavirus task force said Saturday that 1,241 people died from COVID-19 over the past day, topping the previous record, set Wednesday. The weekend tally topped Wednesday’s by only two people.

The task force also recorded 39,256 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s total cumulative infection count to 9.03 million.

The task force has also reported over 254,000 cumulative deaths, the highest death toll in Europe, according to the AP.

Russia’s current wave of coronavirus infections began in late September, this surge in particular has caused the company to continuously break records for COVID-19 infections and deaths.  

Officials have blamed low vaccination rates for the surge. Just 35 percent of Russia’s population is vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin imposed a stay-at-home week under which only essential employees were allowed to work.

That week was supposed to end Nov. 7, but five regions in Russia said they would extend the mandate beyond Nov. 8 amid the surge, Reuters reported earlier this month. 

According to the AP, two bills were introduced in Russia’s parliament on Friday that would restrict access to many public places. The legislation would also restrict domestic and international trains and flights to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19.