Russia against coronavirus. May 5

On May 5, Russia confirmed 8 726 new coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 449 834.

Over the past 24 hours 144 people have died, bringing the total toll to 5 528 — a rate considerably lower than in many other countries hit hard by the pandemic.

A total of 8 057 people have recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 212 680.

New infections have been steadily dropping since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11 000 cases.

Officials say Russia's high virus count is the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections and its low fatality numbers mean the country can begin to return to normal.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has ordered to lift some of Moscow's coronavirus restrictions starting June 1. All non-food shops and some service sector businesses will be able to re-open, he said. The city will also test lifting restrictions on walks outside using a schedule system for apartment buildings and all parks except for Zaryadye Park will re-open.

Russia plans to start clinical testing of a coronavirus vaccine on paid volunteers from the general public from next week, the director of the institute in charge of the study told

Putin was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday to discuss proposals to restart an economy badly hit by lockdown measures and a sharp fall in oil prices.

Russia’s second-largest city St. Petersburg recorded almost 30% more deaths in May 2020 compared to its average May total over the past decade.