Russian cities deserted amid coronavirus lockdown

Russia's two largest cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg have turned into ghost towns as local authorities enact measures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Previously bustling and traffic-clogged streets like St. Petersburg's Nevsky Prospekt and Moscow's Novy Arbat are now eerily empty, with the rare passersby or car whizzing by.

Moscow on Wednesday launched a system of obligatory electronic passes for residents seeking to travel through the city by car or public transportation, with hefty fines for violations.

St. Petersburg, which has about 16 times less coronavirus cases than Moscow - 1,083 versus 16,146 according to local figures - has largely kept in place voluntary self-isolation recommendations, but the vast majority of residents have still opted to stay home.

Russia had recorded a total of 24,490 cases of the new coronavirus and 198 deaths by Thursday according to figures by the Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.