Coronavirus infection in Russia. September, 05

In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 18 780 cases of COVID-19 and 796 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 6 993 954 and 186 407 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed.

- Russia could see a renewed surge of the coronavirus as early as this month, top health officials have warned.

- Slovakia will halt the use of Sputnik V due to low demand among its population. The EU member state's decision to approve the Russian vaccine ahead of EU approval sparked a political uproar that led to the resignation of its prime minister.

- Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine demonstrated 94,8% efficacy against Covid-19, according to real world data from San Marino, where around 70% of the population have been inoculated with Sputnik V, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said. The vaccine also showed 95,9% effectiveness against hospitalization.

- The protection offered by Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine could increase during the first six months after vaccination, a preliminary study in Argentina has found. Researchers analyzed blood samples of those inoculated with the Russian jab and found antibody responses were stronger six months after being vaccinated compared to levels recorded three weeks after the second dose.

- Russia registered its fifth coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona-N. The Health Ministry said it was an upgrade on the already-approved EpiVacCorona jab, which had been under scrutiny after clinical trial participants raised questions about the vaccine’s effectiveness. Both were developed by the state-run Vector Institute.

- Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine offers strong protection against hospitalization, according to scientists who have conducted the first independent real-world study of the jab’s effectiveness in combating severe.