OREANDA-NEWS Rospotrebnadzor estimated the economic damage to Russia from the coronavirus pandemic in 2022 at 1.6 trillion rubles, writes TASS with reference to department data.

The damage was calculated on the basis of direct medical expenses and medical care costs during the disease, as well as indirect economic losses. Direct medical expenses ranged from 0.76 to 1.35 trillion rubles, indirect economic losses — at least 0.5 trillion rubles.

However, the damage could have been much more serious, according to Rospotrebnadzor. It was reduced thanks to PCR tests, which allowed to control the spread of COVID-19.

In May, the Ministry of Finance reported that by the end of April, the federal budget deficit reached 3.42 trillion rubles, while the level planned by the government for the whole year is only 2.93 trillion rubles.