Over the last 24 hours, 8,764 more people tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total count to 308,705, according to emergency task force.

Over the same period, 135 people died, raising the death toll to 2,972, while 9,262 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 85,392.

The country continues mass testing for COVID-19 in attempt to detect the disease at early stages, when it is less contagious .

As many as 7.1 million tests have been carried out so far, finding 273,000 people with the suspected virus.

Despite strict measures, which include lockdown of capital Moscow, ban for entry of foreigners and stateless people, and suspension of international air and railway traffic, Russia is the second-worst coronavirus-hit country in terms of number of cases.

Three top Russian officials, including Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, are being treated in hospital from the coronavirus, while three more were earlier discharged for recovery.

The pandemic has claimed more than 323,400 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in China last December. The US and Europe are currently the world’s worst-hit regions.

More than 4.9 million cases have been reported worldwide and nearly 1.7 million people have recovered to date, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

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