Coronavirus infection in Russia. April 19

In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 8 632 cases of COVID-19 and 389 deaths due to a disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total case count going up to 4 702 101 and 105 582 deaths, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed.

- 820 000 residents of Moscow, or 6 percent of the capital's total population, have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine since the start of the mass vaccination campaign in December last year, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday. Another 1 million have had the first vaccine dose.

- The developer of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said Wednesday its jab did not cause blood clots, a potential side effect that has disrupted rollouts in several Western countries.

- Starting April 15, Russians returning to the country by any means of transport will be required to submit a negative Covid-19 test to the authorities within three days after arriving, state consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announced. Previously, only those arriving by air were required to submit negative test results.

- Moscow on Wednesday announced the start of production of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Serbia, the first European country outside Russia and Belarus to begin manufacturing the jab.

- Moscow authorities will offer an at-home vaccination option for residents with reduced mobility starting April 13. At least 120 000 people are expected to receive the vaccine through the initiative delivered by 66 mobile teams of social workers.

- Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Gamaleya Institute, has confirmed that Sputnik V is less effective against the South African variant of the virus, but claimed that the Russian-made jab still offers better protection against virus mutations than its rivals.