Gradual increase in Covid-19 cases recorded in Russia - consumer health watchdog

MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - A gradual increase in cases of Covid-19 has been recorded in Russia, and Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) is also expecting a traditional rise in cases of acute respiratory infections by the end of summer and the start of fall.

"A gradual increase in cases of Covid-19, recorded at low values, has been observed in the past four weeks. A total of 7,900 cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the past [the 31st week]; the morbidity rate grew by 28.1% compared to the previous week. [...] Overall, the epidemiological situation regarding cases of Covid-19 in the country is under control," the press service for Rospotrebnadzor told Interfax on Wednesday.

"An increase in cases of acute respiratory infections due to people travelling actively to various Russian regions and foreign countries during the holiday season is traditionally expected by the end of summer and the start of fall," it said.

"An increased number of contacts between people and an active exchange of viruses, including coronavirus, as well as changing weather conditions - all of this has an effect on the growth in morbidity," it said.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, Omicron remains the prevailing strain of coronavirus in Russia. The FLiRT (KS.1) variants making up nearly a third of cases stand out among the circulating strains, and a fifth of cases occurred due to JN.1.16.1 and XBB.