Russia mobilizes students to help in Coronavirus battle

Hundreds of Russian medical students started working in hospitals and clinics to help healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Around 300 students from medical universities in Samara combine shifts in Intensive Care Units, ambulances and clinics with studies that were moved online due to the rise of coronavirus cases in the region.

On Saturday, the Samara region had registered 143 new cases bringing the total to almost 15,000.

Russian officials reported 16,521 new cases of coronavirus across the country making the overall number of infections close to 1.5 million.

Russian authorities lifted most of the virus-related restrictions over the summer and have said there were no immediate plans to impose a second lockdown or shut down businesses despite the resurgence.

In some Russian regions, officials urged the elderly to self-isolate and called on employers to have at least part of their staff work from home.

Several regions have shut down nightclubs and limited the hours of restaurants and bars.