In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 18 241 cases of COVID-19 and 564 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 3 756 931 and 70 482 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed on Monday.
-Russian authorities on Tuesday said mass production of its second coronavirus vaccine would begin next month and that a third homemade jab is currently in registration.
- Moscow's museums, exhibitions, libraries and cultural centers re-opened to visitors, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced. New regulations also allow for cinemas, theaters and concert halls to fill up to 50% of seats.
- Hungary's National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI) gave a six-month authorization to Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, OGYÉI director-general Mátyás Szentiványi announced Wednesday. Hungary is set to become the first EU member to use Sputnik V for large-scale inoculation.
- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has applied for authorization of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in the European Union. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded a scientific opinion procedure for the vaccine developers on Jan. 19 and is due to begin the formal approval process in February.
- The republic of Bashkortostan is set to become the first region to introduce immunity passports for residents with Covid-19 antibodies starting February, Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov announced Monday.
- Turkmenistan became the first Central Asian republic to register Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced Monday.
- Russia’s Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona coronavirus vaccines are not available or in short supply in 42 of the country’s regions. Health care experts named transportation and production problems among the key logistical issues impeding Russia's mass vaccination campaign.
- 60% of Russians are unwilling to take the coronavirus vaccine compared with 40% willing to vaccinate, according to a survey by The Superjob.ru job board.
- Life in the Russian capital could return to normal by May, as long as people get vaccinated, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday. Moscow has vaccinated around 140 000 so far, he added.
