Russia’s Murmansk region counts more COVID-19 cases than neighboring Norway or Finland
2,299 cases are counted at Belokamenka, Novatek’s huge construction site by the Kola Bay, but the majority of cases, 7,492, are in the rest of the Murmansk Oblast that geographically covered the Kola Peninsula in Russia’s northwestern corner.
The number of infections in Murmansk has now surpassed the numbers in either of the two neighboring countries; Finland has 7,404 while Norway has registered 9,132 cases by July 28. Both Finland and Norway have about seven times higher population than Murmansk Oblast.
The number of COVID-19 infections in the Murmansk region has more than doubled since Governor Andrey Chibis in late June started to lift the most strict lockdown of the society. On June 21, the Murmansk region had 4,431 cases registered.
Severe outbreak
While the outbreak at Belokamenka seems to be more or less under control, two new cases last day, the outbreak in the city of Murmansk is severe with 113 new cases last 24 hours, according to the Vkontakte page monitoring the coronavirus outbreak in the region.
In Severomorsk, where people were standing shoulder-by-shoulder on Sunday as the Navy Day Parade was arranged, the number of cases increased by 28 since yesterday. Total infections in the Northern Fleet’s main base is now 798.
Russia confirmed 5,395 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 823,515.
Related stories from around the North:
Arctic: Harmonized data could help understanding of COVID-19 pandemic in North: Arctic Council briefing doc, Eye on the Arctic
Canada: Two presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada’s Arctic test negative, CBC News
Greenland/Denmark: Faroe Islands prolongs free COVID-19 testing for travellers until July 31, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Russian tourists eager to book holidays in Finland despite border closure, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland walks back lifting of COVID-19 restrictions after infection uptick in travellers, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Growing concern among Nordic officials over increased Arctic border traffic, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Closed military naval town in Russian Arctic sees major increase in COVID-19 cases, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish authorities tasked with preparing for second coronavirus wave, Radio Sweden
