A passenger wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus rides a subway car in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. Russian authorities had recorded higher daily case numbers since late October. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's record high coronavirus death toll persisted for a second straight day on Saturday, as the number of new infections declined.
The state coronavirus task force reported 1,254 COVID-19 deaths, matching Friday's tally.
The task force also reported 37,120 new confirmed cases. The daily new infections in recent weeks appear to have a downward trend but still remain higher than during previous surges of the virus.
The latest surge in deaths comes amid low vaccination rates and lax public attitudes in Russia toward taking precautions. About 40% of Russia's nearly 146 million people have been fully vaccinated, even though the country approved a domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine - Sputnik V - months before most of the world.
In total, Russia's coronavirus task force has reported nearly 9.3 million confirmed infections and 262,843 COVID-19 deaths, by far the highest death toll in Europe.
Some experts believe the true figure is even higher. Reports by Russia's statistical service, Rosstat, that tally coronavirus-linked deaths retroactively reveal much higher mortality. They say 462,000 people with COVID-19 died between April 2020 and September of this year.
Russian officials have said the task force only includes deaths for which COVID-19 was the main cause, and uses data from medical facilities. Rosstat uses wider criteria for counting virus-related deaths and takes its numbers from civil registry offices where registering a death is finalized.
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A medical worker administers a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Russian authorities on Friday reported a record number of coronavirus deaths for the third day in a row. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press
People wearing face masks travel on a metro train in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
A seller waits for customers as protective masks and gloves are displayed in a kiosk in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Passengers wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus ride a subway car in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. Russian authorities had recorded higher daily case numbers since late October. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Passengers wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus ride a subway car in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. Russian authorities had recorded higher daily case numbers since late October. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
People wearing face masks travel on a metro train in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit record highs for the second straight day Thursday, while new daily cases appeared to be taking a downward trend but still remained higher than during previous waves of the pandemic. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press