Coronavirus infection in Russia. July 31

Russia confirmed 5 509 new coronavirus infections Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 834 499.

Over the past 24 hours 129 people have died, bringing the total toll to 13 802 - a rate considerably lower than in many other countries hit hard by the pandemic.

A total of 9 322 people recovered over the last 24 hours.

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow, the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the Urals.

Moscow plans to open cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.

Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.

Last week the Russian Defense Ministry said it had developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.

The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.

President Vladimir Putin said the country's coronavirus outbreak had stabilized but warned the situation remained difficult and could easily deteriorate.

The European Union won't open its borders to Russian citizens until at least mid-August, according to a source in one of the EU member states' delegations. The EU is revising its "white list" of permitted travelers every two weeks.