MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Moscow accounts for 2% or 2.5% of citizens or nearly 300,000 people, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told Rossiya-24 TV channel on Thursday.

"The fact that we have confirmed so many ill persons is not a minus, it’s a great plus. Obviously, the real number of those ill in the city is higher. According to the screening, they account for 2% or 2.5% of all Moscow’s citizens or nearly 300,000," the mayor said.

The goal of the city authorities now is to record the maximum possible number of people who have contracted the coronavirus. This is necessary for them to self-isolate and prevent the infection of their contacts. "For this, a giant work is underway and over the past week we have doubled the number of tests. Earlier, some 20,000 tests were conducted and now nearly 40,000," the mayor said.

Moscow authorities do not expect the city to return back to full-fledged life without restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We should never lose optimism. How soon we come out from this situation will largely depend on ourselves, on our discipline. I do not want to predict the future, but my personal opinion is that we will not be able to return to full-fledged life without restrictions soon," the mayor said.

He is certain, however, that Moscow residents will endure all hardships and "defeat the virus."

In accordance with Sobyanin’s decree, a regime of heightened readiness has been imposed in Moscow in a bid to prevent the coronavirus spread. Since March 29, self-isolation regime was made mandatory for all residents of the city. Leaving home is allowed only for emergency medical aid, travelling to work, grocery shopping, walking pets and disposal of household garbage. Since April 22, public transport use is only allowed with a digital pass, which is being checked automatically.

According to the latest data, some 92,676 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Russian capital. To date, a total of 177,160 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 23,803 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 1,625 fatalities nationwide.

Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.