Russia against coronovirus. June 17

Russia confirmed 8 246 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 537 210.

Over the past 24 hours 143 people have died, bringing the total toll to 7 091 — a rate considerably lower than in many other countries hit hard by the pandemic.

A total of 4 489 people recovered over the last 24 hours, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 284 539.

President Vladimir Putin has extended the period in which foreign nationals whose Russian visas expired after March 15 can stay in the country. Foreigners already in Russia will now have their visas automatically extended through Sept. 15.

Moscow and many other regions lifted restrictions including compulsory travel.  

Critics have cast doubt on Russia's low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting to play down the scale of the crisis. Russia attributes its lower virus death figures to mass testing which has identified many cases with mild or no coronavirus symptoms.

Russian officials have urged hotels to ban unmarried couples from checking in as a way to preventing the spread of coronavirus.