More than 66,000 people contract coronavirus in Russia in past 24 hours, more than 3,000 hospitalized - coronavirus response headquarters

MOSCOW. March 8 (Interfax) - A total of 66,576 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Russia over the past 24 hours, which is 6,500 fewer than the day before, 3,847 people were hospitalized, and 649 patients died of Covid-19, according to data from the coronavirus response headquarters published on Tuesday.

"As of March 8, 66,576 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Russia. The number of hospitalizations in the past 24 hours reached 3,847 people, which is 1.13% more than in the previous 24 hours," the headquarters said.

The number of hospitalizations increased in 39 regions of Russia and declined in 46 regions, the headquarters said.

Six hundred forty-nine patients died o coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Six hundred seventy-one deaths were reported the day before.

The number of new coronavirus cases has declined by 6,586 from the previous 24 hours, when 73,162 cases were recorded in Russia. The number of new cases recorded daily has declined for six days in a row.

The Omicron strain has become predominant in Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said on January 26. According to the coronavirus response headquarters, it has been found in all regions of Russia.

"A total of 111,756 people recovered over the past 24 hours, which is an 8.9% decline from March 7," the headquarters said.