MOSCOW: Russia recorded 1,000 Covid-related deaths in a single day on Saturday for the first time since the pandemic began.

The figure had been rising all week, with the Kremlin blaming the Russian people for not taking up vaccination, BBC reported.

Only about a third of the population has had a jab, amid wide distrust of the vaccines, it said.

Russia’s figure of 222,000 Covid deaths is the highest in Europe, with another 33,000 infections.

The government has avoided bringing in strict restrictions because it says it needs to keep the economy working.

The Kremlin has instead focused on public apathy on vaccination.

(With inputs from BBC)