Russia builds new facility amid virus measures

Authorities in Russia have continued to expand preparations to deal with the coronavirus pandemic with a new medical facility being built for 200 patients in the Voronezh region and road checkpoints set up across the country.

New coronavirus hotspots have been discovered in hospitals and nursing homes, including one in the Siberian city of Yakutsk, where nine elderly patients contracted COVID-19.

Russia has registered a fresh daily record high of new coronavirus cases, with over 11,600 new infections registered on Monday, the highest daily new cases of any country in the world.

The new infections have brought the nation's total to more than 221,000 cases, including about 2,000 deaths. Russia now has the third-largest number of cases in the world after the United States and Spain.

Russia has been in partial economic shutdown since late March with only essential industries allowed to continue operating. Most regions have imposed lockdowns forcing the population to stay home.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and could lead to death.