The heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have been instructed to take personal control and ensure the achievement of the required level of collective immunity to COVID-19.

This is one of the tasks set by the results of the final meeting of the headquarters to combat the spread of coronavirus in 2021.

During the meeting, reports were made by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova and Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko.

"The top officials of the regions, under their personal control, ensure ... the achievement of the established indicators of the level of collective immunity against the new coronavirus infection and its maintenance through timely vaccination of those who have recovered and re-vaccination of those immunized," the list of instructions says.

Also on Thursday, December 30, Tatyana Golikova announced that the level of herd immunity to coronavirus in Russia increased by 1.4% over the week and reached 61.8%.

According to her, among the leaders in this indicator are Sevastopol (90.2%), St. Petersburg (80.9%), Chukotka (80.7%) and Karelia (80.4%).

The Republic of Tyva (78.1%) and the Moscow Region (77.2%) are approaching the 80% mark.

Collective immunity at the level of 72% and above is shown by the Belgorod, Kaliningrad, Lipetsk, Murmansk, Oryol regions and the Republic of Khakassia.

In Moscow - 71.4%.

As Golikova clarified, as of December 30, more than 74.5 million Russians were fully vaccinated, about 78.7 million people received the first component of the vaccine.

Following the meeting of the headquarters, the heads of the regions were also tasked to take additional measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the incidence, to strengthen control over persons returning to Russia from countries with an unfavorable epidemiological situation.

The heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are also ordered to ensure the readiness of medical organizations to work in the face of a possible increase in the number of patients with coronavirus.

In particular, it is necessary to form a reserve of beds for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, to improve the quality and availability of medical care for patients with coronavirus, "paying special attention to the timing of diagnosis and the beginning of treatment of the infection" in order to prevent severe cases of the disease.

During the meeting, the head of the Ministry of Health said that the experience of other states faced with the spread of the omicron strain shows that those infected with this variant of the virus spend less time in the hospital, but due to the rapid course of the disease and a large number of patients, the load on the medical system increases like an avalanche.

In this regard, Murashko stressed that during the holidays it is necessary to actively continue the vaccination process, and especially revaccination against COVID-19.

“Vaccination is effective protection against both the delta strain and the omicron strain.

There are enough vaccine reserves in the regions, ”the minister said.

Also on russian.rt.com, the Headquarters announced the highest incidence rates of COVID-19 in the elderly

In turn, the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova noted that omicron is several times more infectious than other strains of SARS-CoV-2.

“The transmission of omicron goes much faster ... the incubation period is shortened: the maximum remains 14 days, but the first clinical signs appear already on the third or fifth day,” Popova explained.

At the same time, she also stressed that Russian drugs are effective for forming protection against a new strain, therefore it is important to maintain a high level of vaccination and revaccination.

Earlier, Popova said that 103 cases of omicron disease have already been identified in Russia, all foci are localized.

At the same time, she expressed the opinion that the spread of a new strain in Russia is inevitable due to the number of contacts.

The effectiveness of "Sputnik"

On December 30, Vladimir Putin met with the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, who said that Sputnik V is showing results "as the best vaccine in the world."

According to him, recently published data in Hungary shows that the domestic drug is 130 times better at protecting against deaths from COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated people.

This figure is "several times better" than other tested vaccines.

He added that both Sputnik V and Sputnik Light perform well when used as a booster injection for other drugs, in particular, increasing the effectiveness of American RNA vaccines, which have a short duration of action.

“It is also very important that, according to the latest data, Sputnik works well with Omicron and decreases in efficiency much less than foreign vaccines, and Sputnik Light dramatically increases this protection, so we really believe that Sputnik - This is, among other things, the most effective vaccine in the world to combat omicron, - explained the head of the RDIF.

  • Vladimir Putin and Kirill Dmitriev

  • kremlin.ru

COVID-19 Statistics

In Russia, over the past day, 21,073 new cases of coronavirus were detected, while 43,004 people fully recovered, 926 patients died.

The maximum number of new cases was recorded in Moscow (2661), St. Petersburg (1532) and the Moscow region (977).

The total number of COVID-19 episodes registered in the country has reached 10,479,344. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 9,423,227 people have been cured in Russia, and 307,948 patients have died.

Also on December 30, it became known that the Ministry of Health issued a registration certificate for the drug "COVID-globulin", created on the basis of blood plasma of people who have undergone coronavirus.

Its effectiveness, safety and ability to neutralize coronavirus have been confirmed in clinical trials, the press service of the Rostec state corporation said.

It is noted that in seven out of ten patients who received "COVID-globulin" as part of complex therapy, the risk of the disease becoming more severe was reduced.

The drug showed the greatest efficiency when used in the early stages of the disease.

“The world's first drug of a specific anticoid immunoglobulin has successfully passed the final two phases of clinical trials, proving its safety and efficacy.

The development of "Natsimbio" significantly expands the capabilities of Russian doctors in the fight against COVID-19.

Now in their arsenal there are both possible forms of immunization against coronavirus: active - vaccine and passive - immunoglobulin, "said Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov.

  • © rostec.ru

Extension of school holidays

Against the background of the situation with the spread of coronavirus, the press service of the Ministry of Education reported that the department does not plan to change the timing of the New Year holidays.

They noted that there were no acute outbreaks of COVID-19 disease in Russian schools, requiring federal action.

“Specific decisions on vacation time are made by the regions independently, based on the epidemiological situation in the field.

At the same time, the ministry is in constant contact and will continue control and joint work with the regions, with the health authorities and with the deputy corps, "TASS quotes the text of the message.

On the eve of the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education Yana Lantratova proposed to extend the New Year holidays in schools until January 16 in order to prevent disruption of the educational process.

On December 24, the head of the Ministry of Education Sergei Kravtsov noted that the extension of the New Year's holidays was not discussed, but urged teachers and schoolchildren to comply with the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor during the holidays in order to prevent a worsening of the epidemiological situation.