Global Covid-19 cases over 2 million as Putin warns Russia faces ‘extraordinary’ crisis
Russian president suggests army could be drafted in as China also sounds alarm at cross-border cases. Putin Warned
“We have a lot of problems, we don’t have anything especially to brag about and we definitely mustn’t relax,” he added. He told officials they needed to “consider all scenarios for how the situation will develop, even the most complex and extraordinary”. His warning came as the number of global infections rose to more than 2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. At least 119,678 people around the world have died, with the highest death tolls in the US and Italy. About 450,000 people have recovered. The true number of infections is likely to be higher, with suspected under-reporting or limited testing in some countries. President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus has made the claim of zero infections or danger from the virus. In the video conference, Putin called for measures to end shortages of protective equipment for medics and added that Russia would also bring in the defence ministry to help if necessary. China has also voiced concern about spread of the virus in Russia. While China’s daily reported infection rate remains far below its peak during the pandemic, the majority of new cases have been in regions bordering its northern neighbour. The area has become the new focus of containment measures, with some lockdown measures brought in for the cities of Hubin and Suifenhe.