COVID-19 cases in Russia surge to 658

Russia has registered 163 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the sharpest daily increase so far, raising the total number to 658, official data showed Wednesday.

The new cases were confirmed in 20 regions, including 120 in Moscow, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being said in a statement.

All the new patients, who are currently under isolation, had visited countries hit by the coronavirus in the last two weeks, it said.

Those who have made close contact with the patients in Russia have been identified and work is underway to place them under medical supervision, it said.

Of the 658 infected, 29 have recovered and been discharged, including seven in the last 24 hours.

With 172,254 people suspected of being infected and put under medical supervision, 112,074 remained under observation as of Tuesday, it said in a separate statement.