MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Almost 25,000 medical students and about 2,000 lecturers provide assistance to coronavirus patients in the ‘red zone,’ Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Monday.

"Currently, almost 60,000 students and 13,000 lecturers are involved in the provision of medical care. Of these, 25,000 students and almost 2,000 lecturers work in the ‘red zone," he said at the Council of Rectors of Medical Universities.

Murashko thanked all heads of universities, teaching staff and students for their response and help. "Without that assistance, it would have been much harder for us during this period," he said. He noted that 1.3 million patients sought medical attention during the peak of the pandemic.

To date, 3,983,197 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 3,472,091 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 77,068 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.