COVID deaths set new records daily as Russia grapples with mistrust of government and vaccines

Moscow — Russia's deadly fourth wave of COVID-19 continues to set grim daily records for both deaths and case numbers. Almost every day throughout October saw higher figures, and the trend has continued into the new month.

On Wednesday, health officials reported yet another all-time high of 1,189 coronavirus fatalities over the previous 24 hours, and more than 40,000 new infections.

Russia's official death toll from COVID-19 stands at 242,060, but the government's own data on excess mortalities suggest the actual toll could be significantly higher, with as many as 750,000 lives lost to the virus. That would make it the highest in Europe per capita.