At a time when Covid-19 cases are coming down across the world, their rise in some countries is causing worry. The daily number of Covid deaths in Russia hit another high Tuesday amid a surge in infections that has forced the Kremlin to order most Russians to stay off work starting this week.
Sluggish vaccination rates have allowed the virus to spread quickly across Eastern Europe. Ukraine and Bulgaria also reported record daily death tolls on Tuesday. Russiaās national coronavirus task force reported 1,106 deaths in 24 hours, the most since the start of the pandemic. The number brought the countryās official pandemic death toll to 232,775, Europeās highest by far.
Russia registered 36,446 new daily coronavirus cases, slightly fewer than the past few days. In a move intended to stem the spread of the virus, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nonworking period between Oct. 30 and Nov. 7, when the country will observe an extended holiday.
During that time, most state organizations and private businesses are to suspend operations, and most stores will close along with kindergartens, schools, gyms and most entertainment venues. Restaurants and cafes will only be open for takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and businesses operating key infrastructure can stay open.
China on Tuesday placed Lanzhou, a city of four million under lockdown in a bid to stamp out a domestic coronavirus spike. The authorities asked residents of the city not to leave home except extreme emergencies. The restrictions came as China reported 29 new domestic infections — including six cases in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of northwestern province Gansu. Officials in Lanzhou said the ‘entry and exit of residents’ would be strictly controlled and limited to essential supplies or medical treatment.
‘All types of residential communities are to implement closed management,’ authorities said in a statement. The latest rules come on top of strict stay-at-home orders imposed on tens of thousands in northern China, with access to tourist sites already limited and residents advised not to leave the city unless necessary. The spread of virous should be controlled at any cost as the world cannot afford another wave.