Russia's daily coronavirus infections soared today to their highest level so far this year as authorities have struggled to control a surge in new cases amid a slow pace in vaccinations and a few restrictions in place, AP reports.

The daily coronavirus death toll topped 900 for a second straight day, with 924 new deaths reported on Thursday — a day after reaching a record 929.

Russia already has Europe's highest death toll in the pandemic topping 213,000 and a conservative way of calculating the number suggests the actual number could be even higher.