Russian doctors bring New Year joy to virus patients

Russian medical workers sought to bring some New Year joy to COVID-19 patients in the early hours of Saturday, as they celebrated the end of a difficult year on the hospital wards. The country's coronavirus task force has registered a total of about 10.5 million confirmed infections and 308,860 deaths.

Just 51% of Russians have been fully vaccinated, and the government has sought to speed up the uptake, claiming that Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and other domestically designed shots offer good protection from omicron.

Authorities across Russia have restricted access to museums, theaters and concerts allowing entry only to those who have been vaccinated or tested negative. However, restaurants, clubs and cinemas have remained accessible for all in most regions.