President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic could hit Russia this fall as he noted that the country’s current outbreak is stabilizing.
Russia appears to have flattened the curve with fewer than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases reported each day for the past week, totaling 326,448 infections since the first cases were reported in early March. But its highest-ever daily coronavirus death toll of 150 on Friday suggested that the pandemic is not yet under control in the world's largest country.
“Another wave of coronavirus sickness rate is possible in Russia, from late October to November,” Putin said at a televised videoconference with government officials and health experts.
“We must keep that in mind and be ready for that scenario,” he warned the health minister and colleagues, citing Russian and foreign experts.
He urged officials to reserve extra hospital beds ahead of a potential influx of patients.
During the videoconference, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the capital should keep in place its coronavirus restrictions, which have been extended until May 31, as the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak continues to fight new infections.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova warned Putin of a significant spike in coronavirus deaths in May. Russia currently has one of the lowest death tolls, at 3,249, among countries with similarly high cases of Covid-19, a figure that has prompted widespread questioning.
With new Covid-19 infections beginning to dip in many countries, governments are now struggling to balance measures to prevent the virus — and head off a possible second wave of infections — with moves to reopen their economies.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
