Russia moved to ease a nationwide coronavirus lockdown despite a surge in cases that has seen it register the world's second highest number of infections, AFP reported.

Daily figures released by health authorities showed Russia reaching 232,243 confirmed infections, behind only the United States which has reported more than 1.3 million.

Officials say the high number of cases reflects a huge testing campaign, with some 5.8 million tests carried out so far, and point to the country's relatively low mortality rate as evidence Russia is managing the crisis.