Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 3
July 3: 3 things you need to know today
Federal transport authorities have found more than 500 violations of anti-coronavirus measures at Russian airports in June, the Kommersant business daily reported.
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has extended Russia's ban on international flights until Aug. 1 due to the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported and a source at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport confirmed to The Moscow Times.
Russia confirmed 6,718 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 667,883.
More updates
— A Moscow election official infected with the coronavirus had administered votes during Russia’s weeklong plebiscite on constitutional changes, the Dozhd television channel reported.
— All beaches in Moscow will be closed due to the coronavirus, Russia's consumer protection watchdog said. Locals had flocked to beaches along the Moscow River with the arrival of warmer weather.
— The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg will re-open to visitors on July 15.
— Russians shouldn't expect a return to their normal pre-coronavirus lives before February 2021, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
July 2
— Russia confirmed 6,760 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 661,165.
— Former Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev has recovered from the coronavirus two weeks after testing positive, his spokesman said.
July 1
— Russia confirmed 6,556 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 654,405.
— Russia is not among the 15 countries whose citizens can enter the European Union when it re-opens its borders Wednesday due to Russia's coronavirus response. Russia could be added later to the EU's list of "safe countries," which the bloc will update every two weeks based on the safety situation in each state.
— Russia held a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms despite the coronavirus. The amendments, which were overwhelmingly approved, would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule until 2036 by resetting his term limits.
June 30
— Russia confirmed 6,693 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 647,849.
— Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov has recovered from the coronavirus, he wrote on his Instagram on Tuesday. He said he had contracted the virus three months ago while being treated for leukemia in Berlin.
— The republic of Chechnya has canceled its two-week quarantine requirement for individuals entering the region, its head Ramzan Kadyrov said at a meeting as quoted by Interfax. People entering the region will still be required to present negative coronavirus test results or to take a test at the border.
As Russia faces a deadly pandemic, a constitutional change that could keep the president in power for life and a swiftly warming climate, the need for free, independent and objective coverage of Russia has never been greater.
The Moscow Times is at the forefront of this coverage — and we need your support to do it.
Please donate today and support the only independent, English-language news outlet reporting within Russia. Your contribution helps ensure our reporting is free and open to all!
June 29
— Russia confirmed 6,719 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 641,156.
— Russia's coronavirus lockdown measures, combined with residents' compliance with these restrictions, have helped prevent about 80,000 deaths from the virus, a study by Moscow's Higher School of Economics said.
— Russia's movie theaters will reopen on July 15, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said at a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The country's cinemas had closed in late March due to the coronavirus.
— A second wave of coronavirus could hit major cities in European Russia as soon as two weeks from now, Mikhail Shchelkanov, who heads the Far Eastern Federal University’s school of biomedicine, told Ura.ru. The virus could also hit Russia’s Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok through Chinese citizens returning home from other countries.
— Vladimir Lenin's tomb on Red Square will reopen to the public on July 1, the Federal Security Service said.
June 28
— Russia confirmed 6,791 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 634,437.
— President Vladimir Putin gets tested for the coronavirus "every three to four days," he told the state Rossia 1 broadcaster in an interview that aired Sunday. All of the tests have come back negative, he added.
June 27
— Russia confirmed 6,852 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 627,646.
June 26
— Russia confirmed 6,800 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 620,794.
— About 20% of Moscow residents have coronavirus immunity, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said, citing a new study.
— Moscow isn't ready to fully re-open its tourism sector, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
— Russia will ease its ban on foreigners imposed due to the coronavirus to allow foreign specialists to enter the country, a government decree says. Specialists who meet the government's requirements will be allowed a single entry into the country.
June 25
— Russia confirmed 7,113 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 613,994.
June 24
— Russia confirmed 7,176 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 606,881.
— Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vedomosti business daily reported.
— Russia held its landmark Victory Day parade on Red Square after it was postponed from May 9 due to the coronavirus. Despite the pandemic, thousands of military personnel took part in the parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.
— Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov pulled out of attending the Victory Day parade in person after two members of his delegation tested positive for Covid-19 upon arriving in Moscow.
— The European Union is considering barring Russian travelers from entering when it reopens its borders next week, The New York Times reported.
June 23
— Russia confirmed 7,425 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 599,075.
— Starting Tuesday, Moscow's indoor dining, fitness clubs, swimming pools and public sports and recreation facilities will reopen after being closed for months due to the coronavirus.
— Russia’s state statistics agency published higher coronavirus death figures for April than previously reported because it receives more complete data than the national coronavirus crisis center, its chief has said.
— More than one-quarter of Russians know at least one person among their friends, family or aquaintances who has contracted the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported, citing research from Moscow's Higher School of Economics.
— The Buddhist leader, or Supreme Lama, of the republic of Tyva, a remote region of Russia in southern Siberia, has died of coronavirus, the head of the region said.
June 22
— Russia confirmed 7,600 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 592,280.
— Most Russian regions will be able to start accepting tourists from other parts of the country starting July 1, Rostourism spokesperson Zarina Doguzova said.
— St. Petersburg has surpassed Moscow as having the country's highest coronavirus mortality for the first time since the pandemic began. Twenty-nine people have died from coronavirus in St. Petersburg over the past 24 hours compared to 20 people in Moscow.
June 21
— Russia confirmed 7,728 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 584,680.
June 20
— Russia confirmed 7,889 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 576,952.
June 19
— Russia confirmed 7,972 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 569,063.
— Russia has canceled its high-profile Asia-focused economic forum in the Far East, organizers said, as the coronavirus epidemic was far from over in the country.
— Wedding registrations and ceremonies will resume in Moscow starting June 23, Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said, with sanitary and social distancing requirements still in place.
June 18
— Russia confirmed 7,790 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 561,091.
— Four hundred and eighty-nine doctors in Russia have died from the coronavirus, the head of Russia's health watchdog said, or 6% of the country's official death toll. The agency later backtracked, with its press service saying that the figure was "not official" and was based on "data circulating on the internet."
— Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former president of close Russian ally and former Soviet republic Kazakhstan, has been diagnosed with coronavirus, his spokesperson said.
— Mikhail Ignatyev, the ousted head of the republic of Chuvashia who sued President Vladimir Putin last month over what he said was wrongful dismissal, has died from the coronavirus, Interfax reported, citing a source in the region's administration. He had reportedly been hospitalized in St. Petersburg with pneumonia in both lungs in critical condition.
— The Russian military has started testing a coronavirus vaccine on 18 volunteers, the Defense Ministry said. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said its coronavirus vaccine trials had begun with two groups of 38 volunteers.
June 17
— Russia confirmed 7,843 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 553,301.
— A special disinfection tunnel has been installed at President Vladimir Putin’s residence outside Moscow to protect him from the coronavirus, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
— Russian World War II veterans who attend next Wednesday's Victory Day parade on Red Square won't be required to wear masks, the head of Russia's consumer protection watchdog said. Attendees will be spaced apart and all surfaces will be disinfected, Anna Popova said.
— The veterans are self-isolating outside Moscow in order to protect President Vladimir Putin from the coronavirus.
— As of Wednesday, 20 cities had canceled or delayed their Victory Day parades due to the coronavirus.
— The Krasnodar region in southern Russia will begin easing restrictions on tourists starting June 21, including canceling a required two-week quarantine period for arriving tourists.
June 16
— Russia confirmed 8,248 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 545,458.
— A 103-year-old coronavirus patient in St. Petersburg has recovered from the illness, the hospital where she was treated said. Valentina Martynovna is now at home with family and "feeling well," the hospital said.
June 15
— Russia confirmed 8,246 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 537,210.
— Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg had the highest coronavirus mortality rate among all Russian cities in the month of April, according to a new analysis of official data.
— Russian officials have urged hotels to ban unmarried couples from checking in as a way to preventing the spread of coronavirus.
— President Vladimir Putin has extended the period in which foreign nationals whose Russian visas expired after March 15 can stay in the country. Foreigners already in Russia will now have their visas automatically extended through Sept. 15.
— Three more Russian cities, Penza, Chelyabinsk and Yakutsk, have canceled plans to hold Victory Day parades on June 24 due to the coronavirus, the Kommersant business daily reported. At least 10 other cities had canceled or postponed the parade last week.
— French President Emmanuel Macron didn't receive an invitation to Russia's rescheduled Victory Day parade on June 24 and will not attend as a result, a representative of the Elysee Palace told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. He was one of the world leaders expected to attend the landmark May 9 military parade on Red Square before it was postponed due to the coronavirus.
June 14
— Russia confirmed 8,835 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 528,964.
June 13
— Russia confirmed 8,836 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 528,964.
— Russia more than doubled its official coronavirus death toll for April to 2,712 after changing how it classifies fatalities.
June 12
— President Vladimir Putin on Friday made his first public appearance after weeks of coronavirus lockdown, saying at a ceremony to mark the Russia Day public holiday that an "absolute majority" of Russians back his controversial plan to change the Constitution.
— Russian officials handing over a ballistic missile submarine to the Northern Fleet on Friday did not wear masks or practice social distancing, despite the ceremony taking place in the city with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the northern Arkhangelsk region.
June 11
— Russia confirmed 8,779 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 502,436.
— The first batch of Avifavir, the drug Russia approved to treat coronavirus patients, has been delivered to some Russian hospitals.
— At least 10 Russian cities have further postponed a landmark military parade meant to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II because of coronavirus fears, the Znak.com news website reported.
— The head of the World Health Organization's emergencies program has questioned Russia's low coronavirus death rate, saying it is "unusual that the number of deaths relative to the number of confirmed cases is very low."
— The Kremlin doesn't view Russia's coronavirus mortality data as unusual and Rospotrebnadzor is ready to explain its numbers to the WHO, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— Discrepancies in Russia's coronavirus mortality data are caused by the fact that Moscow authorities haven't sent the city's final numbers to the federal headquarters, the RBC news website reported.
— Russian Railways will resume regular service of its Sapsan high-speed trains between Moscow and St. Petersburg starting June 24.
— More than 17% of Moscow residents have coronavirus antibodies, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said.
— Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg has a shortage of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, the Fontanka news website reported as patients decried poor conditions at a hastily built temporary hospital.
June 10
— Russia confirmed 8,404 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 493,657.
— Almost 60% more people in Moscow have died in May than the city's average toll for the past three years, the city health department said as questions continue to swirl around Russia’s low coronavirus death figures.
— Russia's low coronavirus death toll is the result of the country's "effective" healthcare system, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN. "Have you ever thought about the possibility of Russia's health care system being more effective?" he said.
— It will take about two months for Moscow to completely exit its coronavirus lockdown, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
June 9
— Moscow ended its self-isolation orders — including its digital pass system and schedule system for taking walks outside — Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The city has also released a schedule of which restrictions will be lifted over the next few weeks.
— Russia confirmed 8,595 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 485,253.
— The city of Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic has opened a new coronavirus field hospital two weeks after breaking ground on construction.
June 8
— Russia confirmed 8,985 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 476,658.
— Russia will begin re-opening its borders to foreign nationals, starting with foreigners who need to come to Russia for medical treatment or to take care of their relatives, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
— Russia's tourism sector is ready to begin gradually re-opening, Mishustin said at a video meeting with his deputies.
— Russia plans to resume international air travel on July 15 as it eyes a gradual return to normal life amid the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC news website and state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday.
— Russian carrier S7 Airlines plans to resume all domestic flights in June, the company said in a statement Monday.
June 7
— Russia confirmed 8,984 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 467,673.
June 6
— Russia confirmed 8,855 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 458,689.
June 5
— Russia confirmed 8,726 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 449,834.
June 4
— Russia confirmed 8,831 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 441,108.
— Russia plans to start clinical testing of a coronavirus vaccine on paid volunteers from the general public from next week, the director of the institute in charge of the study told The Moscow Times.
— A U.S. military plane carrying 150 donated ventilators to help coronavirus patients landed in Moscow in the second such delivery to Russia, the U.S. embassy said.
— President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to set up a field hospital in the Zabaikalsky region he described as the latest coronavirus hotspot as Russia's outbreak continues to shift outside Moscow.
— Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg recorded almost 30% more deaths in May 2020 compared to its average May total over the past decade, official data said.
June 3
— Russia confirmed 8,536 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 432,277.
— One patient has died following a fire at St. Petersburg's Botkin infectious diseases hospital, which is being used to treat coronavirus patients, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
— Russian hospitals will be able to resume planned medical procedures, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Hospitals which were converted to treat coronavirus patients may also return to their normal work depending on the coronavirus situation in their region.
June 2
— Russia confirmed 8,863 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 423,741.
— The Russian military will march asymptomatic troops and those who have developed immunity to coronavirus at its landmark parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II later this month, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
— Russia's movie theaters could re-open as early as mid-July, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said during a government meeting, pointing to the stabilizing coronavirus situation. Theaters and concert halls will start re-opening in the fall, he added.
— Russia’s military said it has recruited dozens of volunteers among its ranks for two-month clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine set to begin Wednesday.
— Russian scientists are developing a coronavirus treatment involving ultraviolet light brought inside the body, a potentially dangerous method that has been promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
— Temporary hospitals erected in Moscow to treat coronavirus patients will remain in operation for at least a year, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova told state-run television. Five temporary hospitals have been constructed across the city with a total of 10,000 beds, she said.
June 1
— Russia confirmed 9,035 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 414,878.
— Russia will begin rolling out its first approved drug in the fight against coronavirus which it describes as “a game changer” starting next week, Reuters reported, citing the country's sovereign wealth fund.
— Russia's public vote on a set of constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power through 2036 will take place on July 1, Putin said at a meeting with officials.
— A coronavirus patient who fell from a fifth-floor window at a Moscow hospital on Saturday was a police lieutenant colonel and a senior forensics expert in the Interior Ministry, the RBC news website reported, citing an unnamed Interior Ministry source. The woman survived the fall and is now in intensive care, RBC reported.
— Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia, has contracted the coronavirus, he announced.
Source
Federal transport authorities have found more than 500 violations of anti-coronavirus measures at Russian airports in June, the Kommersant business daily reported.
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has extended Russia's ban on international flights until Aug. 1 due to the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported and a source at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport confirmed to The Moscow Times.
Russia confirmed 6,718 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 667,883.
More updates
— A Moscow election official infected with the coronavirus had administered votes during Russia’s weeklong plebiscite on constitutional changes, the Dozhd television channel reported.
— All beaches in Moscow will be closed due to the coronavirus, Russia's consumer protection watchdog said. Locals had flocked to beaches along the Moscow River with the arrival of warmer weather.
— The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg will re-open to visitors on July 15.
— Russians shouldn't expect a return to their normal pre-coronavirus lives before February 2021, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said.
July 2
— Russia confirmed 6,760 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 661,165.
— Former Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev has recovered from the coronavirus two weeks after testing positive, his spokesman said.
July 1
— Russia confirmed 6,556 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 654,405.
— Russia is not among the 15 countries whose citizens can enter the European Union when it re-opens its borders Wednesday due to Russia's coronavirus response. Russia could be added later to the EU's list of "safe countries," which the bloc will update every two weeks based on the safety situation in each state.
— Russia held a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms despite the coronavirus. The amendments, which were overwhelmingly approved, would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule until 2036 by resetting his term limits.
June 30
— Russia confirmed 6,693 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 647,849.
— Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov has recovered from the coronavirus, he wrote on his Instagram on Tuesday. He said he had contracted the virus three months ago while being treated for leukemia in Berlin.
— The republic of Chechnya has canceled its two-week quarantine requirement for individuals entering the region, its head Ramzan Kadyrov said at a meeting as quoted by Interfax. People entering the region will still be required to present negative coronavirus test results or to take a test at the border.
As Russia faces a deadly pandemic, a constitutional change that could keep the president in power for life and a swiftly warming climate, the need for free, independent and objective coverage of Russia has never been greater.
The Moscow Times is at the forefront of this coverage — and we need your support to do it.
Please donate today and support the only independent, English-language news outlet reporting within Russia. Your contribution helps ensure our reporting is free and open to all!
June 29
— Russia confirmed 6,719 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 641,156.
— Russia's coronavirus lockdown measures, combined with residents' compliance with these restrictions, have helped prevent about 80,000 deaths from the virus, a study by Moscow's Higher School of Economics said.
— Russia's movie theaters will reopen on July 15, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said at a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The country's cinemas had closed in late March due to the coronavirus.
— A second wave of coronavirus could hit major cities in European Russia as soon as two weeks from now, Mikhail Shchelkanov, who heads the Far Eastern Federal University’s school of biomedicine, told Ura.ru. The virus could also hit Russia’s Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok through Chinese citizens returning home from other countries.
— Vladimir Lenin's tomb on Red Square will reopen to the public on July 1, the Federal Security Service said.
June 28
— Russia confirmed 6,791 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 634,437.
— President Vladimir Putin gets tested for the coronavirus "every three to four days," he told the state Rossia 1 broadcaster in an interview that aired Sunday. All of the tests have come back negative, he added.
June 27
— Russia confirmed 6,852 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 627,646.
June 26
— Russia confirmed 6,800 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 620,794.
— About 20% of Moscow residents have coronavirus immunity, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said, citing a new study.
— Moscow isn't ready to fully re-open its tourism sector, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
— Russia will ease its ban on foreigners imposed due to the coronavirus to allow foreign specialists to enter the country, a government decree says. Specialists who meet the government's requirements will be allowed a single entry into the country.
June 25
— Russia confirmed 7,113 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 613,994.
June 24
— Russia confirmed 7,176 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 606,881.
— Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vedomosti business daily reported.
— Russia held its landmark Victory Day parade on Red Square after it was postponed from May 9 due to the coronavirus. Despite the pandemic, thousands of military personnel took part in the parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.
— Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov pulled out of attending the Victory Day parade in person after two members of his delegation tested positive for Covid-19 upon arriving in Moscow.
— The European Union is considering barring Russian travelers from entering when it reopens its borders next week, The New York Times reported.
June 23
— Russia confirmed 7,425 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 599,075.
— Starting Tuesday, Moscow's indoor dining, fitness clubs, swimming pools and public sports and recreation facilities will reopen after being closed for months due to the coronavirus.
— Russia’s state statistics agency published higher coronavirus death figures for April than previously reported because it receives more complete data than the national coronavirus crisis center, its chief has said.
— More than one-quarter of Russians know at least one person among their friends, family or aquaintances who has contracted the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported, citing research from Moscow's Higher School of Economics.
— The Buddhist leader, or Supreme Lama, of the republic of Tyva, a remote region of Russia in southern Siberia, has died of coronavirus, the head of the region said.
June 22
— Russia confirmed 7,600 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 592,280.
— Most Russian regions will be able to start accepting tourists from other parts of the country starting July 1, Rostourism spokesperson Zarina Doguzova said.
— St. Petersburg has surpassed Moscow as having the country's highest coronavirus mortality for the first time since the pandemic began. Twenty-nine people have died from coronavirus in St. Petersburg over the past 24 hours compared to 20 people in Moscow.
June 21
— Russia confirmed 7,728 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 584,680.
June 20
— Russia confirmed 7,889 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 576,952.
June 19
— Russia confirmed 7,972 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 569,063.
— Russia has canceled its high-profile Asia-focused economic forum in the Far East, organizers said, as the coronavirus epidemic was far from over in the country.
— Wedding registrations and ceremonies will resume in Moscow starting June 23, Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said, with sanitary and social distancing requirements still in place.
June 18
— Russia confirmed 7,790 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 561,091.
— Four hundred and eighty-nine doctors in Russia have died from the coronavirus, the head of Russia's health watchdog said, or 6% of the country's official death toll. The agency later backtracked, with its press service saying that the figure was "not official" and was based on "data circulating on the internet."
— Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former president of close Russian ally and former Soviet republic Kazakhstan, has been diagnosed with coronavirus, his spokesperson said.
— Mikhail Ignatyev, the ousted head of the republic of Chuvashia who sued President Vladimir Putin last month over what he said was wrongful dismissal, has died from the coronavirus, Interfax reported, citing a source in the region's administration. He had reportedly been hospitalized in St. Petersburg with pneumonia in both lungs in critical condition.
— The Russian military has started testing a coronavirus vaccine on 18 volunteers, the Defense Ministry said. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said its coronavirus vaccine trials had begun with two groups of 38 volunteers.
June 17
— Russia confirmed 7,843 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 553,301.
— A special disinfection tunnel has been installed at President Vladimir Putin’s residence outside Moscow to protect him from the coronavirus, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
— Russian World War II veterans who attend next Wednesday's Victory Day parade on Red Square won't be required to wear masks, the head of Russia's consumer protection watchdog said. Attendees will be spaced apart and all surfaces will be disinfected, Anna Popova said.
— The veterans are self-isolating outside Moscow in order to protect President Vladimir Putin from the coronavirus.
— As of Wednesday, 20 cities had canceled or delayed their Victory Day parades due to the coronavirus.
— The Krasnodar region in southern Russia will begin easing restrictions on tourists starting June 21, including canceling a required two-week quarantine period for arriving tourists.
June 16
— Russia confirmed 8,248 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 545,458.
— A 103-year-old coronavirus patient in St. Petersburg has recovered from the illness, the hospital where she was treated said. Valentina Martynovna is now at home with family and "feeling well," the hospital said.
June 15
— Russia confirmed 8,246 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 537,210.
— Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg had the highest coronavirus mortality rate among all Russian cities in the month of April, according to a new analysis of official data.
— Russian officials have urged hotels to ban unmarried couples from checking in as a way to preventing the spread of coronavirus.
— President Vladimir Putin has extended the period in which foreign nationals whose Russian visas expired after March 15 can stay in the country. Foreigners already in Russia will now have their visas automatically extended through Sept. 15.
— Three more Russian cities, Penza, Chelyabinsk and Yakutsk, have canceled plans to hold Victory Day parades on June 24 due to the coronavirus, the Kommersant business daily reported. At least 10 other cities had canceled or postponed the parade last week.
— French President Emmanuel Macron didn't receive an invitation to Russia's rescheduled Victory Day parade on June 24 and will not attend as a result, a representative of the Elysee Palace told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. He was one of the world leaders expected to attend the landmark May 9 military parade on Red Square before it was postponed due to the coronavirus.
June 14
— Russia confirmed 8,835 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 528,964.
June 13
— Russia confirmed 8,836 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 528,964.
— Russia more than doubled its official coronavirus death toll for April to 2,712 after changing how it classifies fatalities.
June 12
— President Vladimir Putin on Friday made his first public appearance after weeks of coronavirus lockdown, saying at a ceremony to mark the Russia Day public holiday that an "absolute majority" of Russians back his controversial plan to change the Constitution.
— Russian officials handing over a ballistic missile submarine to the Northern Fleet on Friday did not wear masks or practice social distancing, despite the ceremony taking place in the city with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the northern Arkhangelsk region.
June 11
— Russia confirmed 8,779 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 502,436.
— The first batch of Avifavir, the drug Russia approved to treat coronavirus patients, has been delivered to some Russian hospitals.
— At least 10 Russian cities have further postponed a landmark military parade meant to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II because of coronavirus fears, the Znak.com news website reported.
— The head of the World Health Organization's emergencies program has questioned Russia's low coronavirus death rate, saying it is "unusual that the number of deaths relative to the number of confirmed cases is very low."
— The Kremlin doesn't view Russia's coronavirus mortality data as unusual and Rospotrebnadzor is ready to explain its numbers to the WHO, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
— Discrepancies in Russia's coronavirus mortality data are caused by the fact that Moscow authorities haven't sent the city's final numbers to the federal headquarters, the RBC news website reported.
— Russian Railways will resume regular service of its Sapsan high-speed trains between Moscow and St. Petersburg starting June 24.
— More than 17% of Moscow residents have coronavirus antibodies, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said.
— Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg has a shortage of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, the Fontanka news website reported as patients decried poor conditions at a hastily built temporary hospital.
June 10
— Russia confirmed 8,404 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 493,657.
— Almost 60% more people in Moscow have died in May than the city's average toll for the past three years, the city health department said as questions continue to swirl around Russia’s low coronavirus death figures.
— Russia's low coronavirus death toll is the result of the country's "effective" healthcare system, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN. "Have you ever thought about the possibility of Russia's health care system being more effective?" he said.
— It will take about two months for Moscow to completely exit its coronavirus lockdown, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
June 9
— Moscow ended its self-isolation orders — including its digital pass system and schedule system for taking walks outside — Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The city has also released a schedule of which restrictions will be lifted over the next few weeks.
— Russia confirmed 8,595 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 485,253.
— The city of Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic has opened a new coronavirus field hospital two weeks after breaking ground on construction.
June 8
— Russia confirmed 8,985 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 476,658.
— Russia will begin re-opening its borders to foreign nationals, starting with foreigners who need to come to Russia for medical treatment or to take care of their relatives, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
— Russia's tourism sector is ready to begin gradually re-opening, Mishustin said at a video meeting with his deputies.
— Russia plans to resume international air travel on July 15 as it eyes a gradual return to normal life amid the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC news website and state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday.
— Russian carrier S7 Airlines plans to resume all domestic flights in June, the company said in a statement Monday.
June 7
— Russia confirmed 8,984 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 467,673.
June 6
— Russia confirmed 8,855 new coronavirus infections Saturday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 458,689.
June 5
— Russia confirmed 8,726 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 449,834.
June 4
— Russia confirmed 8,831 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 441,108.
— Russia plans to start clinical testing of a coronavirus vaccine on paid volunteers from the general public from next week, the director of the institute in charge of the study told The Moscow Times.
— A U.S. military plane carrying 150 donated ventilators to help coronavirus patients landed in Moscow in the second such delivery to Russia, the U.S. embassy said.
— President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to set up a field hospital in the Zabaikalsky region he described as the latest coronavirus hotspot as Russia's outbreak continues to shift outside Moscow.
— Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg recorded almost 30% more deaths in May 2020 compared to its average May total over the past decade, official data said.
June 3
— Russia confirmed 8,536 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 432,277.
— One patient has died following a fire at St. Petersburg's Botkin infectious diseases hospital, which is being used to treat coronavirus patients, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
— Russian hospitals will be able to resume planned medical procedures, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Hospitals which were converted to treat coronavirus patients may also return to their normal work depending on the coronavirus situation in their region.
June 2
— Russia confirmed 8,863 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 423,741.
— The Russian military will march asymptomatic troops and those who have developed immunity to coronavirus at its landmark parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II later this month, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
— Russia's movie theaters could re-open as early as mid-July, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said during a government meeting, pointing to the stabilizing coronavirus situation. Theaters and concert halls will start re-opening in the fall, he added.
— Russia’s military said it has recruited dozens of volunteers among its ranks for two-month clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine set to begin Wednesday.
— Russian scientists are developing a coronavirus treatment involving ultraviolet light brought inside the body, a potentially dangerous method that has been promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
— Temporary hospitals erected in Moscow to treat coronavirus patients will remain in operation for at least a year, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova told state-run television. Five temporary hospitals have been constructed across the city with a total of 10,000 beds, she said.
June 1
— Russia confirmed 9,035 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 414,878.
— Russia will begin rolling out its first approved drug in the fight against coronavirus which it describes as “a game changer” starting next week, Reuters reported, citing the country's sovereign wealth fund.
— Russia's public vote on a set of constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power through 2036 will take place on July 1, Putin said at a meeting with officials.
— A coronavirus patient who fell from a fifth-floor window at a Moscow hospital on Saturday was a police lieutenant colonel and a senior forensics expert in the Interior Ministry, the RBC news website reported, citing an unnamed Interior Ministry source. The woman survived the fall and is now in intensive care, RBC reported.
— Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia, has contracted the coronavirus, he announced.
Source