Russia outnumbers China in coronavirus cases

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has registered more coronavirus cases than China, the initial epicenter of the novel virus, an authority said on Monday.

Additional 6,198 people tested positive for COVID-19 over the last 24 hours to bring the total number of cases in Russia to 87,147, compared to some 84,000 in China, the emergency team said in a statement.

Almost half of the new cases -- 2,871 -- were registered in the capital Moscow, which remains the worst-hit area.

According to the report, the daily growth in coronavirus infections has slowed to 7.66%.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 794 with 59 new fatalities, while 579 new recoveries carried the total to 7,346.

So far, more than 3 million tests have been conducted in Russia, allowing for finding asymptomatic cases when the illness is less contagious and can be faster treated.

The virus has spread to 185 countries and regions since emerging in China last December.

More than 2.98 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 206,600, according to data compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.