Russia coronavirus deaths on upswing amid Delta variant, low vaccine uptake

Despite the record fatalities, officials have pressed ahead with large in-person events, including Euro 2020 football fixtures

The Delta variant now accounts for 90 per cent of new cases in Moscow

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People wait in line to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Moscow’s outskirts, Russia. Photo: AP

Published: 6:36pm, 2 Jul 2021Updated: 6:36pm, 2 Jul 2021

Russia on Friday reported 679 coronavirus deaths, a record number of pandemic-related fatalities over a 24-four period for the fourth day in a row, a government tally showed.

Russia, the fifth worst-hit country in the world, is battling a surging outbreak driven by the highly infectious Delta variant and worsened by a lagging vaccination drive.

The surge in infections prompted President Vladimir Putin again this week to urge Russians to get inoculated in a televised phone-in session with the nation.

But in spite of the worsening caseload and repeated fatality records, officials have pressed ahead with large in-person events, including Euro 2020 football fixtures in Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg on Friday recorded 101 deaths, just shy of its record from earlier in the week of 119.

Organisers have said the Spain vs. Switzerland quarter-final later on Friday will go ahead despite the surge in infections, in front of thousands of spectators.

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