Hard-hit Russia sets another daily record for COVID deaths

A medical worker wearing a special suit to protect against COVID-19 treats a patient at an ICU in Infectious Hospital No. 23 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Oct. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Roman Yarovitcyn)
A medical worker wearing a special suit to protect against COVID-19 treats a patient at an ICU in Infectious Hospital No. 23 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Oct. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Roman Yarovitcyn)

MOSCOW (AP) — Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit another daily record, four days since a nationwide order for many Russians to stay off work took effect.

Russia’s state coronavirus task force reports 39,008 new confirmed cases and 1,178 COVID-19 deaths. The task force has reported record daily infections or deaths almost every day for the last month.

To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a nationwide non-working period for Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Putin has said that governments in regions where the situation is most dire could add more non-working days, if needed. The Novgorod region became the first one to do so Monday, extending the period by another week.

Russia’s weekslong surge in infections and deaths comes amid low vaccination rates, lax public attitudes toward taking precautions and the government’s reluctance to toughen restrictions.

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