The Russian capital has started a nonworking period intended to stem coronavirus infections as new daily cases and deaths from Covid-19 surged to all-time highs, AP reports.

The country's official death toll from the pandemic, by far the highest in Europe, now stands at 235,057.

To slow the spread of the virus, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nonworking period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7, when most state organizations and private businesses are to suspend operations.