Putin: ‘Life goes on’ despite ‘difficult’ COVID-19 situation

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says “life goes on” despite a “difficult” COVID-19 situation in the country that has seen infection records for two weeks straight. The Kremlin continues to hold off from imposing nationwide restrictions even as the state coronavirus task force reported 141,883 news infections on Wednesday – a massive spike from the daily 15,000 cases recorded in early January. Putin on Wednesday appealed for “solidarity” and “mutual assistance” to help the country pull through the renewed surge.