Medical workers accompany a patient suspected of having coronavirus at a hospital for COVID-19 patients in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work.
The government's coronavirus task force reported 1,163 deaths in 24 hours, the largest daily number since the pandemic began. The latest deaths brought the total toll to 236,220, by far the highest in Europe.
To contain the spread of infection, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nonworking period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7, when most state organizations and private businesses are to suspend operations. He encouraged Russia's worst-hit regions to start sooner, and some ordered most residents off work earlier this week.
Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and companies operating key infrastructure remained open.
Access to museums, theaters, concert halls and other venues is limited to people holding digital codes on their smartphones to prove they have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19, a practice that will remain in place after Nov. 7. Unvaccinated people older than 60 have been ordered to stay home.
The number of new daily cases in Russia rose by 39,849 on Friday, just below an all-time record reported the previous day. The government hopes that by keeping most people out of offices and public transportation the nonworking period would help curb the spread, but many Russians rushed to use the surprise time off for a seaside vacation in the country's south or to take a trip to Egypt or Turkey.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, the head of the government coronavirus task force, voiced concern about a spike in beach vacations.
'œWe are particularly worried about our citizens booking tourist trips to other regions,'ť she said.
Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday.
Russia was the first country in the world to authorize a coronavirus vaccine in August 2020 and proudly named the shot Sputnik V to showcase the country's scientific edge. But the vaccination campaign has stalled amid widespread public skepticism blamed on conflicting signals from authorities.
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Medical workers carry a patient suspected of having coronavirus on a stretcher at a hospital for COVID-19 patients in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Ambulances stand in the line to deliver patients suspected of being infected with the coronavirus to the admissions department at a hospital for COVID-19 patients in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
A medical staff member prepares to administer a dose of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V inside a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
A medical staff member administers a dose of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine inside a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
A medical worker administers a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine inside a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
A medical worker administers a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine inside a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
A medical worker administers a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine inside a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
People gather to get a shot of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
People gather to receive Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at a mobile vaccination center in Krymsk, Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Authorities have blamed soaring infections and deaths on Russia's lagging pace of vaccinations. About 51 million Russians - just over a third of the country's nearly 146 million people - were fully vaccinated as of Friday. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv)
The Associated Press
Food delivery couriers have a rest next to a restaurant in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and companies operating key infrastructure remained open. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press
A cook cuts doner kebab for take-away in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and companies operating key infrastructure remained open. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press
Food delivery couriers wait to get takeaway food to deliver to customers in front of a cafe, which is closed due to coronavirus in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
People eat their takeaway food sitting outside a cafe that is closed due to coronavirus in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia on Friday recorded another record of daily COVID-19 deaths as authorities hoped to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
A food delivery courier rides a bicycle in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Russia has recorded another record of daily coronavirus deaths even as authorities hope to stem contagion by keeping most people off work. Moscow introduced the measure starting from Thursday, shutting kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores, and restricting restaurants and cafes to only takeout or delivery. Food stores, pharmacies and companies operating key infrastructure remained open. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press