COVID cases spike in Russian host city

PETERSBURG Doctors battling record numbers of COVID-19 deaths in St. Petersburg are watching with unease as soccer fans gather for the next Euro 2020 match to be played at one of its stadiums.

Russia's second-largest city, which reported more than 100 deaths per day this week, hosts the quarter-final between Spain and Switzerland on Friday. It's the city's seventh Euro 2020 match.

Some pandemic restrictions have been imposed, including a 50 per cent limit on stadium capacity and a requirement that fans wear masks. Restaurants must stay closed between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m. and there are caps on the number of people who can attend public events.

Virus cases are still rising fast, though, part of a wave across the country that authorities blame on the highly contagious Delta variant and low uptake of vaccines.

In the COVID-19 red zone of one city hospital, medical workers said they were aware of the risks.

“As a doctor, I am of course against the holding of any mass events,” Alexei Dmitriev said, standing in full protective gear in the Mariinskaya hospital. “Of course we expect a surge in patients after such mass events are held.”

The World Health Organization said Thursday the mixing of crowds in Euro 2020 host cities, travel and easing of social restrictions had driven up the number of new cases in Europe by 10 per cent.

UEFA said it was fully aligned with local health authorities' guidelines at every venue and it strictly follows such measures.

In the hospital ward, patients lay on breathing support while doctors monitored their lung functions and prepared oxygen tanks.

Patients' symptoms were different during this surge, compared to earlier coronavirus waves, Dmitriev said. People are suffering severe respiratory symptoms despite minor lung damage and the age range is younger.

Another medical worker recalled the shock of completing a day's work in the red zone and heading into the city, where there were barely any restrictions.

“People were going around, hugging each other,” head nurse Alla Vitalyevna said. “For me it was like living two lives in St. Petersburg. Probably there was a way to prevent what is happening now.”

Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset warned soccer fans that it would be foolhardy to travel to Russia without first having been vaccinated with a COVID-19 shot. More than 1,000 Swiss fans are expected to travel to St. Petersburg for Friday's game.

Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd said Wednesday she was going to the match but had been twice vaccinated and would take all the necessary precautions.

Part of the problem affecting the situation in St. Petersburg is Russia's low vaccination rate.