This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Russia reported more than 8,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest one-day tally since June, as President Vladimir Putin called on citizens to follow measures to prevent its spread.
The number of Russian citizens testing positive for COVID-19 reached 8,135 on September 28, the nation’s coronavirus center reported. This represents the highest one-day increase since June 15.
Russia has registered a nearly 75 percent increase in new cases since late August following an easing of restrictions and as children return to school.
Russia is among several European countries that have experienced a sharp increase in new cases over the past month.
Putin told a virtual government meeting on September 28 that “the result of our joint efforts to fight the spread of the infection depends on everyone.” He said he doesn’t want to have to reimpose restrictions that could hurt the economy.
Like many other countries, Russia imposed a lockdown on its economy that hurt many businesses, including restaurants and hotels.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin earlier this month called on companies in the nation’s capital to let more employees work from home to help contain the spread of the virus. The Moscow police are also enforcing the use of masks and gloves in the city’s transportation system.
Russia has recorded more than 1.1 million cases of coronavirus to date, the fourth-highest globally after the United States, India, and Brazil.
