MOSCOW residents ventured out to exercise, stroll and shop yesterday as the city eased a strict nine-week lockdown, but millions remained largely confined to their homes as Russia recorded thousands more coronavirus cases.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to begin easing restrictions despite Russia having the world’s third-highest number of confirmed infections.

Putin said last week that Russia had passed the peak of its epidemic and is anxious to get the country moving again, especially in Moscow where he announced plans for a huge military parade June 24.

Russia continues to record a significant number of coronavirus cases — with 9,035 new infections yesterday bringing its total to 414,878, behind only the United States and Brazil in the global tally.

Officials say the high numbers are the result of large-scale testing and that a steady decline in new infections and a low reported death toll of 4,855 mean Russia can ease restrictions.

With more than half of the recorded cases in Moscow and the surrounding region, authorities in the city of more than 12 million have been cautious in lifting restrictions in place since March 30.

But millions of the city’s residents were still required to spend most of their time in their homes, with those allowed to work required to obtain official passes.

As a two-week test measure, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said residents will be allowed to take walks within two kilometers of their homes according to a staggered schedule based on their address.

(SD-Agencies)