Russia sees record rise in one-day coronavirus infections; total number tops 100,000

Russia on Thursday recorded a largest a daily increase of confirmed coronavirus cases as the number of infections surged past 100,000.

According to health officials, 7,099 people confirmed of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 106,498 cases. The number of deaths in Russia is at 1,073.

With cases continue to rises with each passing day, Russia is on its way to becoming another worst-affected country in Europe. However, in comparison to other worst-hit European countries like Italy and Spain, the death toll in Russia is significantly low.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the country's response had helped it avoid the catastrophic "Italian scenario".

Russia's success was down to "tough self-isolation decisions" and government measures "which convinced people to stay at home," local media quoted Peskov as saying.

The virus has spread to all 85 regions of the country, with Moscow the epicentre with around half the total cases.

Russia recently surpassed Iran and China in the number of confirmed infections and is now eighth in the world in virus cases, according to an AFP tally.

The country has carried out nearly 3.5 million virus tests, health officials said while adding that Russia is ranked 19th in the world for the number of coronavirus deaths.

Earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin warned that the situation remained "very difficult", saying Russia had managed to slow the spread of the epidemic but cautioning that "this should not reassure us".

Medics in Russia have complained of shortages of protective equipment and testing kits and hospital staff are becoming increasingly concerned with deaths in the medical community.

The Kremlin this week extended until May 11 a "non-working" period when Russians would stay at home but still receive their salaries as part of sweeping efforts to contain the virus.

Despite the steady increase in cases, Putin said that Russia may begin to gradually lift different quarantine regimes throughout the country from mid-May.

(With inputs from agencies)