In larger Russian cities, signs point to a rise in COVID-19 activity. This assessment comes from Nikolay Kryuchkov, a recognized immunologist and the general manager of the Clinical Excellence Group, discussed during a radio interview on a recent Sunday. He spoke with authority about the latest data and what it could mean for the country.
According to Kryuchkov, the newest medical statistics on deaths and hospitalizations suggest the real possibility of a fresh coronavirus wave in Russia. He warned that the next two months could bring an uptick in May and June, with major cities showing the earliest signals. While the expected surge is not likely to match the scale of the Delta or Omicron waves, the immunologist pointed to indirect indicators in changing patterns of fatalities and hospitalizations as signs of renewed activity.
Kryuchkov noted that a new wave could pass largely unnoticed because not everyone gets PCR testing. He explained that although May and the early summer months might see higher case numbers, the rise could stay hidden due to limited PCR testing coverage. A more pronounced wave could surface later in the autumn, when new lines of infection might become clearer.
To lift restrictions prematurely, Kryuchkov linked the current modest uptick to the relaxation of measures and a drop in vaccination rates. He described a subtle, ongoing wave of COVID that differs from the large waves caused by previous variants. Changes began in big cities in April, with May possibly passing quietly before June returns to calmer conditions. Yet the immunologist cautioned that such fluctuations are part of the natural pattern and can be driven by multiple factors. He stressed that it is too early to end all coronavirus restrictions in Russia and suggested that mass vaccination of high-risk groups remains a key strategy. He urged the public to resist media narratives that downplay the virus as a routine ARVI threat and to take protective measures seriously.
He advocated reintroducing masks in public life, especially in transit hubs and other crowded settings, reflecting a precautionary approach to reduce transmission during periods of increased activity.
Vaccination and infection rates
As of early May 2022, Russia ranked 103rd globally in vaccination coverage. The figure hovered around fifty percent, based on data compiled by Stop Coronavirus, Johns Hopkins University, and Our World in Data. The federal operations center reported about 5,500 new infections nationwide on a given day, with roughly 2,562 hospitalizations and about 132 deaths. The conditional death rate remained near two percent. Throughout the pandemic, the world has reported hundreds of millions of infections and several million deaths. Russia has recorded tens of millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of fatalities according to the federal infection control center.
This context underscores the ongoing risk and the importance of vaccination alongside continued vigilance in public health measures. The numbers highlight the need for accurate testing, clear communication, and adaptive policies that respond to evolving trends in transmission and disease severity across the country. The global experience reinforces that vaccines, when combined with prudent precautions, help reduce severe outcomes and protect vulnerable groups. In Russia, the trajectory of the pandemic continues to be shaped by public health strategies, vaccination uptake, and the behavior of the virus itself as new variants emerge, with authorities monitoring indicators and adjusting guidance accordingly.