Fire at Russian hospital kills 5 coronavirus patients

MOSCOW (AP) — A fire at St. George Hospital in St. Petersburg has killed five coronavirus patients. Russian emergency officials said all five had been put on ventilators. The emergency officials told the state Tass new agency the fire broke out in an intensive care unit and was put out within half an hour. The Interfax news agency reported that it could have been caused by a faulty ventilator. A criminal investigation into the fire has been opened. Russia has reported more than 220,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. and 2,009 deaths — but international health experts say those numbers undercount Russia’s outbreak. Coronavirus has put a huge strain on Russia’s vastly outdated health care infrastructure.