Kremlin blames vaccine hesitancy as Delta variant drives Moscow surge

The Kremlin on Friday blamed a surge in COVID-19 cases on reluctance to have vaccinations and 'nihilism' after a record 9,056 new infections in Moscow, mostly with the new Delta variant, fanned fears of a third wave. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin extended restrictions he had imposed this month, which include a ban on events with more than 1,000 people, an 11 p.m. closing time for restaurants, and the closure of fan zones set up for the European soccer championship