COVID-19 cases to rise next week, Russia lacks doctors, drugs

MOSCOW, Apr 13 (PRIME) -- The number of COVID-19 cases will increase in Russia next week, while the doctors in Moscow and the Moscow Region are already overloaded, and there is a deficit of medical devices, President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said on Monday, as broadcast by the Rossiya 24 channel.   

"In Moscow and many other regions the paramedic teams, outpatient and inpatient hospitals have been working with a very high load and stress for several last weeks. I am asking you to report on how additional medical teams are formed," Putin said and sanctioned formation of teams from students.

According to Putin, Russia has started to feel the lack of necessary medical devices for doctors treating contagious patients. "I am asking you to think among other things about centralized purchases and formation of a united federal reserve of individual protection tools for medical workers and equipment and pharmaceuticals for the coronavirus infection to help the regions and medical organizations fast by using the reserves," he said.

Putin said that the next several weeks will largely define the situation with the coronavirus in Russia. "The next weeks will be definitive. This means that all our actions, I mean the prevention measures locally and the healthcare system as a whole must be organized in the best possible way, which means, have a reserve made bearing in mind all factors," he said.

Golikova said that the regions are lagging behind Moscow by the COVID-19 cases rise by three to four weeks, which is why it is important to prepare beds in local hospitals and make strong efforts to ensure social isolation.

Golikova said that 254 laboratories including 18 private ones had started to test for the coronavirus.

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