© Provided by Washington Examiner Amid boasts from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the country's success in keeping the nation's COVID fatality rate low, new statistics released by the government show a tripled death toll over what has been reported up until this point.
New numbers released on Monday by Rossat, the state statistical agency, report that deaths from all causes in the nation rose by 229,732 from January to November over the same time period last year, according to multiple news outlets that analyzed the data.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said during a briefing on Monday that more than 81% of that increase was due to COVID-19, meaning at least 186,000 Russians died during that period due to the virus. Up until this point, Russia has only reported about 55,000 coronavirus deaths.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the website containing the new statistics was inaccessible. When the link is clicked, a page appears with words that can be roughly translated to "access is denied."
© Provided by Washington Examiner(Russian government website)
According to a CNN count based on data from Johns Hopkins University, 186,000 deaths (a number which is likely higher given it does not include December) would give Russia the third-highest death toll of any nation in the world that has been reporting its figures. Russia would be slightly below Brazil, which has 191,570 deaths, and the United States with 336,325. It would also make Russia the third-worst country for coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people, at 128 per 100,000, with Belgium reporting 168 deaths per 100,000 and San Marino 169. Based on Russia's previously reported number of coronavirus deaths, CNN's count currently reports the country having 38 coronavirus deaths per 100,000.
In August, Russia became the first country to register a vaccine. Though Putin assures his citizens the vaccine is safe, despite it being used before normal clinical trials were completed, a survey conducted by the state-run polling company VCIOM and the Levada polling agency shows only 38% of Russians plan to get it.
Tags: News, Russia, Coronavirus, Vladimir Putin, Vaccination
Original Author: Haley Victory Smith
Original Location: Russia admits COVID death toll more than triple what was previously reported