Russia’s Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology has formed a preliminary group of volunteers aged between 18 and 60 for preclinical trials of vaccine against the novel coronavirus, researcher Natalya Dumchenko has said.

According to Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, many countries, including Russia, have banned exports of individual protective gear and medical equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He stressed that in the current situation, the government should help entrepreneurs.

More than 30 countries have asked Russia to supply artificial lung ventilation devices, Deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Oleg Bocharov told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to provide direct gratuitous state assistance to small and medium-sized businesses in the amount of 12,130 rubles ($162) per employee.

To date, a total of 24,490 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia.

Detects a dozen copies of the virus at a time: Russia is preparing to manufacture high-precision test systems for detecting coronavirus infection. The latest tests can detect a dozen copies of the virus at a time.

The result for one specimen should be ready within 1 hour, according to the company.

The Central Bank will allocate $2 bln for these needs, according to the spokesperson in the secretariat of First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Andrei Belousov.

Adverse effects for the Russian economy will concentrate in the second quarter of this year, Elvira Nabiullina said.