"Isolated cases identified": in Russia recorded the appearance of the strain "gamma" COVID-19

In Russia, cases of the Brazilian strain of coronavirus infection, designated by the Latin letter "gamma", have been identified.

This was reported in the scientific center of Rospotrebnadzor "Vector".

“On the territory of the Russian Federation, the“ delta ”variant has become widespread, and isolated cases of the“ gamma ”variant have been identified,” says the message, the text of which is quoted by Interfax.

It is noted that these SARS-CoV-2 mutations are classified as "of concern" - they are more transmissible, virulent, and can reduce the effectiveness of antibodies.

At the same time, no cases of the disease with the strains "lambda" and "epsilon" have yet been recorded in Russia.

“In the Russian Federation, there is also a tendency to replace other options with the“ delta ”option.

Taking into account the competitive advantages it has in comparison with the known variants, there is no reason to expect that the delta variant will be displaced by the already studied varieties of SARS-CoV-2, ”added Vector.

Along with this, the state scientific center indicated that in countries with an unfavorable epidemiological situation, a new, more dangerous variation of COVID-19 is more likely to occur.

“The relatively uncontrolled spread of the virus, unchecked by restrictive measures or vaccinations, is a prerequisite for the development of a large number of varieties in a relatively short period of time.

For this reason, the likelihood of a new dangerous variant emerging in countries with an unfavorable epidemiological situation is higher, ”RIA Novosti quoted the message.

Recall that the State Research Center "Vector" has developed its own vaccine against COVID-19 "EpiVacCorona", which was registered in Russia on October 13, 2020.

It is noted that this development is effective against new strains of coronavirus.

“The basis of the EpiVacCorona vaccine is made up of conservative, that is, areas of the new coronavirus that are less susceptible to mutations.

Our regular analysis of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations shows that they do not affect the peptides used in the vaccine, ”the center explained.

COVID-19 statistics in Russia

In Russia, over the past day, the increase in cases of coronavirus infection amounted to 24,471 people.

Moscow (4287), St. Petersburg (1943) and the Moscow region (1835) are the leaders in the number of detected cases.

In total, 6,054,711 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the Russian Federation since the beginning of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Russia, over the past 24 hours, 22,660 people were discharged, and over the entire period the number of recovered people reached 5,427,457. reached 151,501.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, over 160.8 million laboratory tests for coronavirus were performed over the entire period of the pandemic, including 528 thousand in the last 24 hours.

1.242 million people remain under medical supervision.

• RIA News

• © Anton Denisov

As the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov noted, the Kremlin sees no reason to be concerned about the openness of data related to the spread of coronavirus infection in the country, since this information is published in full.

“The government has all the data it needs in order to formulate further steps to combat the pandemic and to continue at an accelerated pace of the line to vaccinate the population,” he added.

Dmitry Peskov also spoke about the proposal to introduce responsibility for the call to refuse vaccination.

On July 20, Vladimir Petrov, First Deputy Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Leningrad Region, addressed the Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuichenko with a similar proposal.

“We have no position, we do not know the details of this proposal.

What do rejection and call for rejection mean?

What should be interpreted as a call for refusal?

Is private opinion a call for rejection or not?

Therefore, not knowing the details of this initiative, I cannot tell you anything, ”he said.

The spokesman for the head of state recalled that in Russia there are already legislative norms that make it possible to punish the spread of fakes related to vaccination against coronavirus.

He also called Vladimir Putin a supporter of the unification of approaches to vaccines on a global scale.

“Because now, as he said yesterday, everyone is acting on their own tracks, this does not at all lead to an increase in the effectiveness of our common efforts.

Therefore, yes, we are supporters of dialogue and supporters of finding ways to unify approaches to vaccines on a global scale, ”Peskov said.

On the eve of the President of Russia, during a meeting with members of the government, he condemned the practice in the West of dividing the COVID-19 pandemic into "ours" and "aliens."

“It is difficult to understand many colleagues who continue to divide the pandemic into“ our own ”and“ someone else's ”and, in particular, hinder the registration of our vaccines, which are certainly safe and effective," the head of state said.