The total number of coronavirus infections in Russia has surpassed 8 million since start of pandemic. More than five per cent of the country's 144 million population is sick with the virus, with cases rising daily. Italy became the first major European economy to require all workers to present proof of vaccination, a negative test within the past 48 hours or proof of having been cured recently of COVID-19 to enter workplaces.
Across the European Union, vaccine export is ramping up. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says vaccines have been sent to over 150 nations making the 27-member bloc the largest exporter of the vaccines in the world.
