Coronavirus deaths in Russia hit a record high saturday for the fifth day in a row, and the government reported 697 deaths as the country faces an immediate wave of infections.

The latest high, 679, recorded on Friday.

The Russian state’s coronavirus task force on Saturday reported 24,439 new cases, the highest count since January and 1,200 more than the previous day. Moscow, its peripheral region and St. Petersburg accounted for nearly part of Saturday’s new cases.

Authorities characterize the outbreak of the infectious variant Delta and the low demand for vaccination.

The Kremlin insisted Friday that the government was not discussing the blockade. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that the coronavirus scenario remains “tense” in several regions, but said “no one needs a lockdown. “

Moscow, the region hardest hit by the pandemic in Russia, reported 7,446 cases on Saturday, while St. Petersburg, which hosted the Euro 2020 quarterfinals between Spain and Switzerland on Friday night, reported 1,733 cases and 110 deaths. The areas of the city showed many other people without the mandatory policy of mouth and nose.

People line up to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 at a vaccination centre in Moscow’s Sokolniki Park on July 2, 2021 [Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP] Russia had hoped its vaccination crusade would slow a new wave, but has been met with widespread skepticism and slow deployment, with only 16% of the 146 million people affected.

Frightened by the new wave of cases, the government imposed a series of measures to force or inspire others to get vaccinated.

In Moscow, which hasn’t had a strict lockdown since last summer, the government has now banned other people from going to cafes, bars and restaurants unless they can provide evidence of vaccination, immunity or a negative test.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin told citizens that more than 2. 7 million people had gained at least one dose of the vaccine, said between 60,000 and 70,000 more people were vaccinated and said he hoped the number of people who won a first dose would be successful. at 3 million next week.

At a in the capital, Svetlana Stepereva, a 21-year-old student, told the AFP news agency that she had been queuing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for about two hours.

“I want to take a hit and feel safe,” she said.