Coronavirus in Russia: the latest news. April 5

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 64 000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to tackle the pandemic and prevent its spread within the country. There have been 5 389 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 45 deaths.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia as of April 5.

Russia confirmed 658 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the official number of cases to 5 389. Forty-five people have been killed by the virus in Russia. The majority of new cases were in Moscow, where Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the risk of the coronavirus spreading is the highest in the country. The capital accounts for 87% of all confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin announced an extension of the nationwide “non-working week” until April 30 after the country registered a sharp increase in coronavirus cases on Thursday. Speaking in a televised address, he added that he would delegate the decision making power on anti-coronavirus measures to regional authorities given the regional differences in infection rates.

Putin has signed legislation imposing severe punishment — including up to five years in prison — for people convicted of spreading false information about the coronavirus. The legislation also imposes punishments for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules, including up to seven years in prison.

-Russia will halt flights returning its nationals from abroad after midnight Saturday. Domodedovo, one of Moscow’s four international airports, has shut down its international flights board.

— Russia has sent military medics and equipment to Serbia, the latest country Moscow is helping to fight the global coronavirus pandemic as it also flexes its soft power muscles.

— Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the city will hold off on introducing a QR code pass system to enforce residents' movements under quarantine and extended the quarantine until May 1. He said city authorities would reconsider implementing the system if the coronavirus situation worsens or the number of self-isolation violations rises.

— Moscow residents may now only ride together in a private vehicle if they live at the same address, Moscow City Duma speaker Alexei Shaposhnikov said. Police have begun randomly stopping cars to check passengers' ID.