MOSCOW, (Reuters) –Russian authorities warned Tuesday that they could see a sharp rise in Omicron coronavirus-related cases over the next few weeks. They also said there would be more beds at Moscow’s hospitals as they prepare for a new outbreak.

Anna Popova spoke at the televised meeting for Russia’s coronavirus taskforce. She said that Russia has recorded 305 Omicron cases across its 13 regions.

She said that the risk of “a very severe rise in (cases of) the disease” is real.

Omicron has driven COVID-19 Case Figures to Record Highs in Parts of Western Europe and the United States. Meanwhile, cases in Russia have been steadily declining since a peak in late November of 41 335.

Popova warned of the possibility that “six figures” could result from daily infected if proper hygiene measures are not taken. Officials now fear this could quickly reverse.

At the live televised meeting, Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow’s mayor, told Mikhail Mishustin that Omicron cases were already increasing in the capital.

Without expounding, he said that special measures were being taken to combat the increase in cases.

Sobyanin declared that it was necessary to mobilize additional hospital beds and to mobilise health systems.

Sources revealed to Reuters that officials had been preparing for another round of COVID-19 early in 2022, according to sources.

Kremlin frequently expresses frustration over slow uptake domestically made Sputnik V vaccination against COVID-19. Others cite distrust in the authorities as well as fear of new medical treatments.