Russia's COVID-19 cases exceed 450,000

MOSCOW - Russia has confirmed 8,855 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising its total to 458,689, its coronavirus response center said in a statement Saturday.

The death toll grew by 197 to 5,725, while 221,388 people have recovered, including 8,708 over the last 24 hours, according to the statement.

Moscow, the country's worst-hit region, reported 1,992 newly confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total to 193,061.

As of Friday, 314,541 people were under medical observation, while over 12.3 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted nationwide, Russia's consumer rights and human well-being watchdog said in a statement Saturday.