TUESDAY February 9, 2021: 'Russia's COVID-19 MYSTERY' from ZUMA Press award winning photographer Sergei Bobylev of TASS: Russia's claims of an extraordinarily low mortality have been widely dismissed as implausible for months by foreign observers and Russian doctors alike. Every other indicator, from packed hospitals with long lines of ambulances to mortality among health workers documented by their own associations, has painted a picture of a country hit hard by the pandemic, not one miraculously spared. Russia's true death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic is not about 57,000, as official figures claim, but more than 180,000, the country's deputy prime minister, Tatiana Golikova, conceded. President Putin's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low. Russia, like many countries, is suffering acute economic hardship after weeks of coronavirus lockdown. Amid rising unemployment, there are signs of growing disillusionment with the Kremlin. Welcome to: 'Russia's COVID-19 MYSTERY'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #773: TUESDAY February 9, 2021: 'Russia's COVID-19 MYSTERY' from ZUMA Press award winning photographer Sergei Bobylev of TASS: Russia's claims of an extraordinarily low mortality have been widely dismissed as implausible for months by foreign observers and Russian doctors alike. Every other indicator, from packed hospitals with long lines of ambulances to mortality among health workers documented by their own associations, has painted a picture of a country hit hard by the pandemic, not one miraculously spared. Russia's true death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic is not about 57,000, as official figures claim, but more than 180,000, the country's deputy prime minister, Tatiana Golikova, conceded. President Putin's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low. Russia, like many countries, is suffering acute economic hardship after weeks of coronavirus lockdown. Amid rising unemployment, there are signs of growing disillusionment with the Kremlin. Welcome to: 'Russia's COVID-19 MYSTERY'
A medical worker, with bandaids to help prevent skin damage from constant use of PPE gear, prepares to enter the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
An ER medical worker waits for an ambulance bring new patients to the admissions unit at a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A critical patient receives treatment in the intensive care unit at a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A medical staff member in full protective gear, attends to a COVID-19 patient in ICU at Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A hospital worker prepares to take off a breathing respirator after leaving the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Doctors perform a hip joint surgery at a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15. Working long hours and wearing PPE gear fulltime, takes it toll on all hospital workers.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Medical staff members at work with a patient in the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A medical worker helps a Covid-19 patient receive oxygen via breathing equipment at Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A surgeon with condensation in his goggles as he concentrates while working carefuly on a COVID-19 patient in an operating room at Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Reflected on a heart rate monitor screen, a surgeon performs a heart surgery at a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Emergency department staff members deliver a possible COVID-19 patient to Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Medical staff members move a COVID-19 patient on a stretcher at Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Hospital staff members attend to COVID-19 patients at Moscow's City Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Medical staff wearing fully body PPE gear for protection walk down stairs in the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A medical staff member in full PPE gear, waits with a patient in a wheelchair inside the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A nurse removes her face mask at the end of her shift, after leaving the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15. Generally workers cannot remove their PPE gear until after their long shift at the hospital.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A tiny newborn infant gabs a nurses finger while being treated in the children's intensive care unit of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Hospital workers help each other put on protective PPE gear before entering the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
A medical staff member gets help from a nurse with sealing his goggles from exposure as he prepares to enter the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Hospital medical staff prepare for a long day and help each other put on protective PPE suits before entering the 'red zone' of a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
Patients have to be closely monitored around the clock. A medical worker in an intensive care unit at a temporary medical facility established for COVID-19 patients at Moscow City Clinical Hospital No 15.
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS via ZUMA Press
