BFF-38 Putin says virus situation in Russia ‘under control’

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HEALTH-VIRUS-RUSSIA-PUTIN

Putin says virus situation in Russia ‘under control’

MOSCOW, March 17, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday
said the situation with the spreading coronavirus is “under control” in
Russia after infections were “contained”.

“We were able to contain mass penetration and spread” of the pandemic, the
Russian president told a government meeting. “The situation is generally
under control despite the high risk level,” he added.

Russia on Tuesday reported a total of 114 cases of coronavirus, up from 93
on Monday, with no fatalities.

Putin appealed to the country and the government to “act with self-
awareness, organisation and care for one another,” and urged officials to
provide accurate information to Russians.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who is responsible for health,
dismissed concerns that authorities may struggle if thousands of Russians
require respiratory support.

Russia is “ready to use over 40,000 respiratory support systems,” she said
at the meeting, adding that 106 of the cases in Russia are not severe.

Following public concerns over testing, the government has said it will
step up testing and send more kits to regional facilities. Official figures
indicate over 110,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus.

“We are producing up to 100,000 tests per day,” Golikova added during the
meeting.

A research institute in Siberia has started testing vaccine prototypes on
animals, the laboratory chief said Monday.

BSS/AFP/ARS/2135 hrs