by Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner
What’s going on with Russia’s comparatively low coronavirus infection rate?
Two things: mismanagement and limited options.
Although Russia admitted on Thursday that its coronavirus caseload has jumped to just under 200, the actual accurate figure is likely to be significantly higher. One challenge is the accuracy of testing being employed.
As the Moscow Times reported on Wednesday, there is only one government laboratory currently testing for the coronavirus. The state health agency responsible for these testing efforts isn’t being very helpful either. It refused to answer questions put to it by the reporters. Considering Russia’s vast size, this lack of testing efficacy isn’t exactly ideal.
But it gets worse. The Moscow Times also points out another testing problem — the test methodology being employed is insufficiently accurate. This risks making a mockery out of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim on Tuesday that “we were able to contain mass penetration and spread. The situation is generally under control despite high risk level.”
Putin’s positive language, now starkly divergent with what other world leaders are saying, is striking. It indicates the Russian leader’s desire to limit concerns that might threaten his own domestic credibility — always the overriding focus for the ex-KGB man. And he has good reason to be concerned.
A mass breakout of the virus across Russia would come at a very challenging time. Amid collapsing oil prices (the critical element of Putin’s revenue structure) and in the context of Russia’s totally inadequate healthcare system, in the event of a major outbreak, Putin would have very limited means of either consolidating the economy or providing for those who get sick. In this sense, local bans on large gatherings and the closure of public facilities reflect not the first step of a coordinated federal strategy, but rather the relative limit of Putin’s action.
The mostly co-opted Russian media is reflecting this point. Beyond the Moscow Times and a few other reputable independent publications such as Kommersant, the media continues to underplay the threat to Russia itself. This is a government that is crossing its fingers and hoping for the best. Oh, and echoing its Chinese authoritarian neighbor by pretending America is to blame.
In short, it’s not looking good.
