Moscow, Dec. 26, (dpa/GNA) – In Russia, the number of people infected with coronavirus has risen above the 3-million mark since the beginning of the pandemic, the official statistics published in the capital Moscow revealed on Saturday.
The figures showed that there were 29,200 new infections nationwide within the previous 24 hours, and more than 560 deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 54,200 so far.
According to the authorities, Moscow and the port city of St Petersburg in the north of the country are hardest hit.
The government hopes to get the pandemic under control with the Sputnik V vaccines developed by Russian researchers, the world’s first coronavirus vaccine to be approved for broad use despite concerns from international researchers.
Vaccinations have been administered since the beginning of the month, and according to the authorities, more than 300,000 people have been vaccinated so far.
The Ministry of Health has now given approval for people over the age of 60 to also receive Sputnik V, state television reported.
More than a week ago, the 68-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he could not yet be vaccinated because Sputnik V was only approved for people up to the age of 60.
Two coronavirus vaccines have already been released for use in Russia. More are in development.
GNA