Coronavirus infection in Russia. February 01

In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 125 836 cases of COVID-19 and 663 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 11 983 913 and 332 012 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed.

- A growing number of Russian regions are re-introducing coronavirus lockdown measures due to the surging Omicron variant, even as the Kremlin on Monday repeated that there will be no nationwide lockdown due to the variant’s spread.

- Fifteen regions across the country have suspended routine medical care due to the overwhelming number of hospitalizations, while five regions have sent schoolchildren to remote learning and four regions banned mass gatherings.

- The Tula region south of Moscow took the most drastic step in the latest virus surge by announcing a 10-day regionwide holiday.

- Russia’s excess fatalities reached 995 000 by the end of 2021, according to analysis of official statistics. The country also saw its largest natural population decline since the end of the Soviet Union, registering a fall of more than one million in 2021, the Rosstat statistics service said Friday.

- Moscow does not plan to introduce new lockdown measures in response to the Omicron variant.

- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday it was "clear that the real number of people who have Covid-19 is slightly higher than the official statistics."

- The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital in the capital jumped 22% on Thursday and is now running close to peaks recorded during the two previous waves of the virus in 2021.

- Children in St. Petersburg are barred from sporting, cultural and entertainment establishments from Jan. 28-Feb. 13, city authorities announced.

- Russia has cut the quarantine period for people infected with Covid-19 from 14 to seven days, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Tuesday.