Russia says July was the deadliest month of the pandemic

MOSCOW: Russia saw the highest monthly coronavirus death toll of the pandemic in July, with 50,421 people dying from COVID-19 or related causes during the month, state statistic service Rosstat said on Friday.

The death toll exceeded the number of coronavirus deaths in December, hitherto the deadliest month of the pandemic in Russia. Russian authorities blame the spread of the more contagious Delta variant and a low vaccination rate for the third wave of coronavirus infections, which peaked in July.