Can We Trust Russia's Low Coronavirus Infection Rate?

MOSCOW – The fight against coronavirus has stopped performances by the world famous Bolshoi Theater company, something that even World War II couldn’t do.

It’s part of Russia’s efforts to contain an outbreak which President Putin claims as “a whole is under control.”

For weeks, Russia only reported a handful of infections. Then on Monday, that number went from 63 to 93. The next day it was 114, and the day after 147.

The government jumped into action— closing the border to foreigners, banning gatherings of more than 50, and forcing residents returning from abroad to self-isolate. Muscovites responded by stockpiling, emptying supermarket shelves and wearing face masks.

But for some experts this response might be coming too late. Anastasia Vasilyeva, Head of an independent doctors union, Doctors Alliance told VICE News, “Across the country, there are a huge amount of patients with pneumonia … we cannot ignore the coincidence and link these pneumonia cases with Coronavirus. In my opinion, there are tens of thousands of cases that we don’t know about.”

She's not the only one who is worried that the rate of infection in a country of 146 million people, that borders China on one side and Europe on the other, seems suspiciously low. Especially because most people who arrived from abroad haven’t been tested.

Although Putin claims Russia has curtailed the spread of the epidemic he’s called for an increase in the production of tests and more supplies of medicine and equipment. The government has gone so far as to order prisoners to start making face masks.

But for Vasilyeva, the national response isn’t going far enough: “Russia is absolutely not ready for the epidemic. I am more than sure that even serious cases and deaths will be simply hidden from the population.”

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[VICENews]

For weeks, Russia only reported a handful of infections. Then on Monday, that number went from 63 to 93. The next day it was 114, and the day after 147.

[rodrigosalles]

Doctor: You gave us 3 test kits.. They're all positive.
Putin: 3 positives... Not great, not bad

[potatomatop]

Covid-19: *exists*
Russia: no you don't

[_Epsilon_]

Russia even theoretically can't have as many cases as EU countries. Human traffic in Russia is very low, thanks to long distances between cities and low density of population. Border with China was closed very early on. Those arriving from EU are tested.

[dannybrown]

I guess it was good to see the first and last interview with that doctor...

[smeggyhead]

114cases. Is anyone else thinking of the phrase: "Not great. Not Terrible."

[catarinaamaral]

The question should be more like “Can we trust CHINA’s low coronavirus infection rate?”

[Trololo]

3 weeks later: Head of Doctors Alliance mysteriously passes away from unsuspected heart attack

[blast]

Western media:
Russia says anything: LIES LIES LIES
China says anything: Thank you Chairman Xi!

[niktv]

Just need to clarify that this person Anastasia Vasilieva, is not a practicing doctor and in General is not related to Virology or infectious diseases. She used to work as an ophthalmologist and then met Navalny, created a private organization "Alliance of doctors" and now broadcasts on YouTube.

[_Epsilon_]

Russia blocked chinese tourists early on, not many Russians visiting China, most cases in Russia are from those visiting EU countries. Moscow is a big hub where majority of arriving people get intercepted and tested. Russia's large distances help for it not to spread very quickly as human traffic within Russia isn't very high in comparison to EU.

[thereaper]

WHO: We have a global pandemic caused by coronavirus
Putin: Who?

[lllBiohazrdlll]

Haha I thought something was suspicious awhile ago.

[xeewzcv]

What is the point of hiding something when everyone can see everything? Fatty traveling Moscow residents are infected, in distant poor provincial towns 0 -1 case. No conspiracy theories. Because:
Huge territory. Low population density throughout the country. Poverty. Most people (except residents of big cities) do not go anywhere outside the country. There are very few crowded cultural events outside Moscow and Petersburg. Life: work, shop, home. In our provincial towns there are almost no foreigners, neither workers nor tourists. The changing climate has taught us to cope with diseases with the forces of our body. Washing hands with soap and hot water many times daily is a natural tradition in Russia. Because mud, dust and garbage everythere. We do not have Chinese diasporas. The vast majority of cases of infection are residents of Moscow. They do not work, they travel and have fun in other countries. They left money there, and brought the virus here. In our city, for example, there were no cases of infection. But the teenage son of a member of the Putin party’s government returned from the UK, where the boy lived and studied in Britain school (!), returned with this virus. Here we have a patriotic and disciplined government, yeah. One case so far. Our government boasts of a low infection rate as an achievement. It would seem - they should have hidden it. But no. It’s impossible to hide. This immediately became known. People are curious, people are talkative, everyone has fast Internet, everyone is on social networks 24 hours a day. The infected themselves immediately report on the Internet. Yes, we have people who shout that the government is hiding the scale, but I have not heard that one of the screaming pointed to someone who recently died from atypical pneumonia.
Although the paradox is that the low number of infected people is explained by the poor, monotonous life of our people in the country behind the facade of a fattening Moscow. You will not be poisoned by an expensive delicacy if you do not have money to try an expensive delicacy. Poor, but alive. Here, it is enough for people to continue washing their hands - as we have been washing our hands since childhood, and to limit contacts with each other, basic hygiene standards and care.
To understand the situation, you need to know Russia, the whole country, how people live throughout the country. It is a stupid mistake to consider Russia according to the standards of other countries. Therefore, you make silly conclusions and fantasies. Even if, somewhere, officials decide to hide something, it does not matter much.

In fact, people are much more worried about the dead ruble, rising prices and subsequent poverty.

Pardon for my bad English)

[totocutugno]

Meanwhile in Russia, not debt, big foreign reserves, social and political stability, enough medical supplies to cope the covid-19 crisis, ruble falls but people understand it will be temporary due to oil price war and dirty going Russia,

[dionysise]

You should be asking this about Turkey

[johngablesmith]

Anyone worried about that doctor's safety now?

[Andrew-jhkj]

I have a feeling that hot, blonde doctor is going to "accidentally" fall out of a window soon after this interview.

[quanvu]

Welp. That doctor will soon be a "casualty" of coronavirus in Russia.

[MaximillianTiberius]

I would think that the numbers in India and Bangladesh are suspiciously low