MOSCOW, May 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The number of people confirmed to have the
coronavirus in Russia has exceeded 200,000, data posted on an official
website set up by health authorities showed on Sunday.
The total number of cases increased to 209,688 after another 11,012 tests
came back positive in the last 24 hours, it showed.
The official number of people dying of coronavirus-related complications
has been comparatively low in Russia at 1,915, though an opposition-allied
doctors union has accused authorities of underreporting deaths of medics.
Russia’s national figure does not include everyone who died after testing
positive, but only those patients whose deaths were confirmed to be caused by
viral pneumonia.
Officials have said the daily rate — which has been over 10,000 for the
past seven days — has much to do with aggressively testing even those
showing no symptoms.
The trend will likely make the number of Russia’s confirmed cases the
biggest in Europe in a matter of days.
Russia has performed 5.4 million tests, compared to Britain’s fewer than
two million.
Most of the cases are in or around Moscow, and some regions have already
begun to lift lockdown restrictions.
The Moscow mayor announced last week that industries and construction sites
will begin work on May 12, but that masks and gloves will now be mandatory in
public areas and shops.
The Russian capital has made special passes required for moving around
outside, but many people can be seen in the streets, especially in good
weather.