Coronavirus infection in Russia. November 01

In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 40 993 cases of COVID-19 and 1 158 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 8 513 790 and 238 578 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed.

- Moscow on Thursday shut shops, schools and restaurants for 11 days in a bid to stop a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths that came after vaccination efforts stalled.
- The Kremlin cautioned Russians against traveling during the Oct. 30-Nov. 7 non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.
- The Israeli government will allow tourists vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to enter the country starting Nov. 15.
- All of Russia's 85 regions across 11 time zones have now mandated vaccines for certain categories of workers, Anna Popova, who heads the federal health watchdog that is leading the country’s response to the virus, said Tuesday.
- Authorities in Crimea said they plan to purchase mobile refrigerators to store bodies in the city of Simferopol as Covid-19 deaths continue to rise and the city's morgues are overwhelmed.
- President Vladimir Putin on Monday instructed regional leaders to order restaurants to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to ban all entertainment events.
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Thursday imposed a partial citywide lockdown between Oct. 28-Nov. 7 to stem the spread of the virus.

The restrictions suspend businesses, services, catering, sports, recreation, entertainment and film screenings with the exception of the sale of essential goods like medicines and food. Mass events, except those authorized by health officials, will be banned, and theater and museum attendance will be capped at 50% with mask-wearing and digital-code rules in place. In-person public services will be suspended and kindergarteners and school students sent home between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7.

- The pace of vaccinations in Russia has accelerated following a string of regions imposing vaccine mandates for workers in certain sectors of the economy and vaccine passports for entry into indoor venues. Russia is administering more than 300 000 first doses each day - up from around 120 000 a day earlier October.
- Russia's second city St. Petersburg will impose a partial lockdown from Oct. 30-Nov. 7, authorities announced Saturday.
- Russia has detected a new sub-variant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which risks compounding the country’s spiraling infections and deaths, a senior Russian government scientist warned Thursday.