[ad_1]
Russia registered more than 10,000 new cases of coronavirus on Friday for the sixth day in a row, after emerging as a new hot spot for the pandemic.
A government count showed 10,669 new cases in the past 24 hours, less than Thursday’s record of 11,231 and bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 187,859.
The country also registered 98 new deaths from the virus, for a total of 1,723.
Russia now ranks fourth in Europe in terms of the total number of cases, according to an AFP count, behind the countries where the epidemic hit considerably earlier: Britain, Italy and Spain.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin appeared on television for the first time since he announced that he had been infected on April 30.
Chairing a video meeting about supporting Russian WWII veterans, Mishustin appeared to be in good health, but did not comment on his condition, although Russian news agencies said he is still in hospital.
On Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced an extension of the confinement in the capital, where most cases are concentrated, until May 31.
It also introduced a rule that people must wear masks and gloves on public transportation and in stores or face fines starting Tuesday.
Residents of the capital are only allowed to leave their homes for short trips to a store, walking dogs, or going to essential jobs with a permit.
Russia has a period of national inactivity until May 11 that has so far not been extended.
On Saturday, when the country generally marks Soviet victory in World War II with large-scale military parades, there will only be flying passes and fireworks.
For the first time, President Vladimir Putin will give a speech at the Eternal Flame memorial next to the Kremlin walls instead of during a parade on Red Square.
[ad_2]
