Russia's COVID-19 cases exceed 15,000

MOSCOW - Russia tallied another daily record of 2,186 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of infections to 15,770 across the country as of Sunday, official data showed.

The death toll climbed to 130 from 106 a day ago, while 1,291 people have recovered, including 246 in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus response center said in a statement.

Moscow, the worst-hit part of the country, registered 1,306 new cases in the last 24 hours, totaling 10,158.

Russia announced its first two COVID-19 cases on Jan 31, and cases have increased significantly since the end of March. The total number of infections topped 10,000 on Thursday.

All Russians except for those working for essential institutions and establishments are on paid leave from March 30 to April 30 as part of the nation's efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Mandatory self-isolation has effectively helped avoid an "explosive" growth in coronavirus cases, and Russia will see if it is approaching the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in the next two weeks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday.

A 10-member Chinese medical team arrived in Moscow with supplies on Saturday to assist Russia's ongoing fight against COVID-19.

Experts from the team will share anti-epidemic experience with the Russian side and offer training for medical workers on the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.