Coronavirus infection in Russia. July 20

Russia confirmed 5 940 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 777 486.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that it has completed the first clinical trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine on human volunteers. The trials showed that "the volunteers had the necessary antibodies to coronavirus and the components of the vaccine are safe and well-tolerated by humans," a lead military scientist told.

Members of Russia’s ruling elite have been given access to an experimental coronavirus vaccine as early as April, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing unnamed sources.

— It would be impossible for Moscow, a city of more than 12 million, to hide the scale of its coronavirus outbreak because "we have a small town, we all live within a radius of 15 kilometers," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. "Everyone knows each other; they can call a friend's doctor, an ambulance station, a clinic; they can ask friends about who's sick or not sick."

— Russia plans to conduct Phase III trials of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in the Middle East as well as at home, the head of Russia’s sovereign fund told.

— Starting July 16, Moscow will offer free coronavirus testing for all residents, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said.

— Belarus plans to re-open its border and resume transport connections with neighboring Russia within the next few days, Belarussian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said following talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Belarus is one of the only countries which refused to impose a coronavirus lockdown.