Coronavirus infection in Russia. May 29

In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 9 252 cases of COVID-19 and 404 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 5 044 459 and 120 406 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed.

- Russia’s Health Ministry’s Ethics Committee did not grant approval for phase-two and -three clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine that combines Russia’s Sputnik V and AstraZeneca developed by Oxford University.

- Russia on Wednesday has started mass vaccination of pets against the coronavirus.  Cornivac-Cov vaccine, the world’s first coronavirus vaccine for pets, is available in public and private veterinary clinics across several regions of Russia.

- Slovakia has approved Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, the jab's developer confirmed Wednesday. The country is set to become the second EU member to use Sputnik V for large-scale inoculation.

- Russia resumed flights with Iceland, Malta, Mexico, Portugal and Saudi Arabia on May 25.  Also starting that day, Russia will increase its number of flights with South Korea, Finland and Japan.

- More than 550 people in Russia have been found to have a more contagious U.K. strain of the coronavirus, Rospotrebnazor head Anna Popova said. Another 10 patients were confirmed to have the Indian variant of the virus, while tens of patients have been infected with the South African variant.

- Russia’s former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has expressed support for compulsory vaccinations Wednesday as the country grapples with slower-than-hoped-for coronavirus vaccine uptake.