Russia records more than 10,000 new virus cases

MOSCOW AFP May13, 2020 –  Russia reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, continuing a grim trend that has seen the country register the world’s second-highest number of infections.  Â

Health officials reported 10,028 new cases over the last 24 hours, bringing Russia’s total number of infections to 242,271.  Â

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko told parliament more than 100,000 patients are now hospitalised with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, a significant jump from the figure of 80,000 he gave on Friday.  Â

Nearly 1,500 patients are currently on ventilators, the minister said.  Â

Six patients have died in deadly fires at hospitals in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the past week.  Â

The blazes have been linked to domestically-produced ventilators and the country’s healthcare regulator on Wednesday suspended the use of the particular model involved.  Â

Murashko acknowledged ongoing “disruptions” in supplies of personal protective equipment for medics, while he said those working in “red zones” with infected patients now have enough.  Â

The Kremlin this week began easing a national lockdown to slow the spread of the virus, despite a steady rise in numbers that on Tuesday brought Russia to second place in a global tally of infections, behind the United States.Â