The growth of identified coronavirus cases in Russia is linked to the beginning of an epidemiological season in autumn and winter, head of Russia’s consumer watchdog Anna Popova told reporters Monday, adding that the situation is stable in general and no new restrictions will be required.
“Today, the epidemiological situation is generally stable in the country, the growth we are recording is connected to the beginning of the respiratory [illness] season in the country. We spoke about it repeatedly that we will see significant numbers between September 10 and 20. They are there today, each case that we identify now is clear epidemiologically. There is nothing unclear in today’s situation. In light of this, there is no need or demand to impose any new restrictions,” she said, following a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge.
Popova stressed that citizens should remember about the simple rules which will allow them to protect their health and prevent the spread of the virus. “These are clean hands, surfaces and objects around [people] and masks. It is inevitable currently but will also protect health,” she concluded.
To date, 1,109,595 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 911,973 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 19,489 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.
Shipments of the Coronavir drug for the treatment of the novel coronavirus infection (international nonproprietary name (INN) – favipiravir) have started to the major Russian cities, the press service of the R-Pharm group which manufactures the drug told TASS.
“We can talk about the beginning of sales. The shipments began to the following cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk,” the company’s official representative said.
He added that the company is not ready yet to name the delivery volumes and the pharmacies which will receive the shipments. However, the press service of eApteka, one of the largest internet pharmacies, announced the beginning of the Coronavir sales. The medication will be sold by prescription, ordered online with the delivery to the nearest pharmacy and payment upon receipt.
Earlier the press service of the R-Pharm group reported that the Coronavir retail price will begin at 11,550 rubles (about $150 – TASS) per package containing 50 pills 200 mg each.
On September 17, Russia’s Healthcare Ministry allowed to use Coronavir and Areplivir for the outpatient treatment of the COVID-19.
Favipiravir was developed in Japan as a flu medicine and was approved for use in 2014. Preparations on its basis are produced under Avigan, Areplivir, or Favilavir brand names. In Russia, it is known as Avifavir.
Avifavir was officially registered by the Russian Healthcare Ministry as the first drug against the coronavirus at the end of May 2020. It has also become the first registered anti-coronaviral drug worldwide. This preparation of a direct antiviral action which disrupts the mechanisms of the coronavirus propagation has demonstrated high effectiveness during clinical trials.
Header: Production of ‘Medgamal’ two components COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) at the Gamaleya National Research Centre in Moscow, Russia, August 6, 2020.
Source: TASS