国际英语新闻:Russia reports over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours

MOSCOW, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia has confirmed 10,598 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising its total to 262,843, according to a statement released by the country's coronavirus response center on Friday.

The death toll has grown by 113 to 2,418, while 58,226 people have now recovered, including 4,696 over the last 24 hours, the statement said.

Moscow, the country's worst-hit region, confirmed 4,748 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 135,464.

Russia's consumer rights and human well-being watchdog announced in a statement Friday that 256,847 people were under medical observation as of Thursday.

Over 6.4 million lab tests for COVID-19 have been conducted across the country so far, it added.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday that mass testing for COVID-19 antibodies will begin on Friday in the capital city.

The program will start with up to 70,000 tests a week and will expand to over 200,000 a day by the end of May, Sobyanin said, adding that the results will be a factor when it comes to easing restrictions.

Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova have now recovered from the coronavirus.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remain hospitalized with COVID-19, while Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev is undergoing treatment at home.