[Global Issue+] Russia Issues Emergency Paid Leave Order Amid Spread of 'Delta Plus' Variant... Intensifying Outbreak

Subvariant of Delta Mutation...Strong Spread and Difficult to Detect
Spreading Not Only in Russia but Also in the Middle East and South America...Concerns Over Resurgence of Pandemic

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the Delta Plus variant of the COVID-19 virus, known as a sub-variant of the Delta variant, is rampant in Russia, a massive spread continues. The Russian government announced that to curb the spread, it will impose an emergency paid leave order from the 30th of this month to the 7th of next month and close all businesses and stores in major Russian cities during this period. Not only in Russia but also in other countries, sub-variants of COVID-19 variants are emerging one after another, raising concerns that another pandemic wave may occur.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 23rd (local time), major cities including the capital Moscow and Saint Petersburg announced that from the 30th of this month to the 7th of next month, all stores and workplaces within the cities will be closed. Earlier, on the 20th, President Vladimir Putin issued a paid leave order for all workplaces nationwide during this period, and subsequent follow-up orders were issued accordingly.

Earlier, on the 20th, President Putin stated at a cabinet meeting, "From October 30 to November 7, all Russian workers will be designated a paid leave period with salary preserved," emphasizing, "During this period, workplaces must grant paid leave to employees, and for non-essential industries, it is also possible to grant additional unpaid leave separately."

Main Cause of Rapid Spread, the 'Delta Plus' Variant

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The reason the Russian government chose the extreme measure of ordering paid leave for all businesses for a week is because the Delta Plus variant, known as a sub-variant of the globally prevalent COVID-19 Delta variant, is spreading rapidly. The Delta Plus variant is known to be much more infectious than the Delta variant. As a result, the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia, which had dropped to the 10,000 range in July, have again exceeded 30,000, and daily deaths have surged to the 1,000 range.

Especially as the winter season, when the activity of the COVID-19 virus intensifies, approaches, concerns about the spread are growing. Russia has been administering its domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine since last year, but due to increasing distrust in vaccines, the vaccination completion rate remains only in the 30% range. This is pointed out as a factor worsening the spread.

Delta Plus Spreading to the Middle East and South America... Will the Pandemic Resurge?

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The Delta Plus variant is rapidly spreading worldwide, extending beyond Russia to Europe, the Middle East, and South America. As a result, there are concerns that countries, which are shifting to lifting lockdown measures due to rising vaccination rates, may have to strengthen their quarantine policies again.

According to Brazil's state-run news agency Agencia Brasil on this day, the health authorities of Bel?m city, the capital of Par? state in northern Brazil, issued a warning that the 'AY 3.3' sub-variant of Delta Plus could become prevalent and recommended strengthening quarantine rules at all levels of hospitals. Brazilian health authorities are reportedly concerned that Delta Plus may not be detected by rapid diagnostic kits or real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic kits.

In the Middle East, the Delta Plus variant is known to be spreading mainly among people entering through Eastern Europe. According to AFP news agency, recently the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "A sub-lineage of the Delta variant found in some European countries has also been detected in Israel," adding, "The first confirmed case is presumed to be an 11-year-old boy who entered from Moldova." There are concerns that if the Delta Plus variant continues to spread, countries that have already shifted to 'With Corona' (gradual return to normal life) policies may face another COVID-19 pandemic wave.