20 Nov
Russia reported about 23,600 new coronavirus infections and more than 460 deaths on Thursday. Both figures marked new daily records. The country's total number of infections rose to over 2 million.
An ice rink in the capital, Moscow, has been turned into a temporary hospital to reduce the strain on the medical system. Around 6,000 daily new infections have been reported in the city recently.
Russian media say the facility, which has hosted international speed skating competitions, has about 1,300 beds and more than 100 doctors and nurses.
At a government meeting on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin expressed concern about the rise in deaths.
He instructed officials to act promptly, including providing swift PCR tests and making a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine widely available.
NHK
