The Kremlin has cautioned Russians against travelling during a non-working period ordered by Moscow to stem a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths.

President Vladimir Putin last week ordered the week-long paid holiday between October 30 and November 7 in a bid to reverse rising infections in the country, one of the worst-affected in Europe, AFP reports.

News agencies citing surveys report one-third of Russians plan to travel during the non-working period and the mayor of the Black Sea resort city of Sochi has warned of a huge influx of tourists.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while travel was not banned next week it could affect the virus' spread.