Russia reports nearly 9,000 new COVID-19 cases

Russia confirmed 8,595 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country's official number of cases to 485,253.

Over the past 24 hours, 171 people have died, bringing the total toll to 6,142 — a rate considerably lower than in many other countries hit hard by the pandemic, according to local media.

11, 709 people recovered over the last 24 hours, pushing the overall number of recoveries to 242,397.

New infections had plateaued since mid-May when officials were reporting daily increases of around 11,000 cases.

Officials say Russia's high virus count is the result of mass testing and that a steady decline in new infections and low fatality numbers mean that the country can begin to return to normal.

Yet critics have cast doubt on the numbers, accusing the authorities of under-reporting deaths and threatening a new wave of infections by lifting restrictions.