<p class="bodytext">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections Wednesday, which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The number of new cases is rising... and what's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing," Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Health authorities Wednesday also reported a new record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries, raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Data published by Russia's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Putin acknowledged Wednesday that several regions were experiencing medicine shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation, noting that "it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We went through this in the spring. We know what and how it needs to be done," Putin said, adding that vaccines are on the way.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia in August registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V -- named after the Soviet-era satellite -- but before beginning large-scale clinical trials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92 percent effective, slightly lower than its international competitors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last month, Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced concern over the country's rising coronavirus fatality rate but said the outbreak was under control.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia has recently registered a sharp rise in new infections but has stopped short of introducing strict measures like some European countries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Health officials reported a total of 1.99 million infections Wednesday, which is the fifth-highest caseload in the world.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The number of new cases is rising... and what's most alarming -- the death rate is increasing," Putin said at a government meeting broadcast on state television.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Health authorities Wednesday also reported a new record of 456 coronavirus deaths over 24 hours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia's total virus deaths of 34,387 is significantly lower than other badly-hit countries, raising concerns that the authorities are downplaying the severity of the crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Data published by Russia's federal statistics service earlier this month indicated excess deaths of more than 117,000 year-on-year between March and September, suggesting that virus fatalities could be much higher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, is better prepared for the second wave than the poorly-funded regions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Putin acknowledged Wednesday that several regions were experiencing medicine shortages and long waiting times for ambulances but said authorities had a handle on the situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that regional heads should not sugar-coat the situation, noting that "it is completely unacceptable to pretend that all is fine".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We went through this in the spring. We know what and how it needs to be done," Putin said, adding that vaccines are on the way.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Russia in August registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V -- named after the Soviet-era satellite -- but before beginning large-scale clinical trials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its developers have since reported that interim test results showed the vaccine to be 92 percent effective, slightly lower than its international competitors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last month, Putin announced that Russia had registered a second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona.</p>