Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Nov. 11

Nov. 11: What you need to know today

• Russia on Thursday confirmed 40,759 Covid-19 infections and 1,237 deaths.
• Russia is now the world leader in coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
• The developer of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities.
• St. Petersburg on Tuesday mandated vaccination against Covid-19 for all residents over 60 years old as well as people with certain chronic illnesses.
• Russia’s nationwide paid holiday aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came to an end Monday. Some regions are keeping the restrictions in place and many others are implementing digital passes showing proof of vaccination or recent Covid-19 recovery.
• QR codes proving one’s vaccination continue to be valid for one year after vaccination, Russia’s Health Ministry and Digital Development Ministry said Monday following reports that the validity period had changed to 6 months.
• Russia on Saturday confirmed 41,335 Covid-19 infections — the highest number of new infections since the beginning of the pandemic — and 1,188 deaths.

Nov. 2

— Russia’s single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine produces a strong antibody response among recipients, according to research published in leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik Light is the first dose of Russia’s two-dose Sputnik V vaccine, which is the backbone of Russia’s domestic vaccination campaign and is being sold around the world. 

Nov. 1

— Russian authorities said that doctors were under “extraordinary” strain due to surging coronavirus cases in Europe’s worst-hit country.

— The Novgorod region in northwestern Russia has become the first region to extend the non-working week. It will order all non-essential workers to take a mandated paid holiday for an additional week after Nov. 7.

Oct. 27

• The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
• The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.

Oct. 26

• All of Russia’s 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said.
• The European Union expects countries including Russia to investigate the sale of fake Covid-19 certificates online and take appropriate measures, an EU spokesperson told RBC. The cybersecurity company Kaspersky said last week that it uncovered counterfeit travel certificates made to look as if they were issued in France or Poland being sold for an average price of $300 on the Telegram messaging app.
• Authorities in annexed Crimea said they…