Record Covid fatalities as Russia prepares for nationwide curbs

Putin blames low vaccination rates as the country records 1,075 deaths in a day

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Russia reported a record 1,075 Covid deaths in 24 hours on Saturday as Europe's hardest-hit country with dramatically low vaccination rates prepares for nationwide curbs from next week.

Despite a number of pleas from the country's president, Vladimir Putin, and the availability of the home-produced Sputnik V vaccine, only 36% of Russians are fully vaccinated.