A version of this piece is available in Russian

While Russian state television is broadcasting assurances of a smooth response to COVID-19, testimony is emerging from patients, who say that chaos and newly adopted protocols in some hospitals are helping to fuel the spread of the virus.

To date, Russia — a country of 144 million people — has confirmed just 438 cases of coronavirus and one death, raising widespread suspicion that it is grossly underreporting the seriousness of its outbreak. Meanwhile, public confidence in the state’s ability to adequately handle the pandemic is faltering.

Now, patients awaiting coronavirus test results at Moscow’s Infectious Disease Hospital No. 1 have reported that they were involuntarily confined on the same floor as people who were testing positive for COVID-19.