Russia prepares to shut all borders as coronavirus cases soar

FILE PHOTO: Drivers, who cooperate with Yandex.Taxi online ride-sharing service, wait for specialists to have their cars sanitized and to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Yandex.Taxi drivers' centre in Moscow, Russia March 26, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will close all border crossings on March 30, the government said on Saturday, tightening restrictions after the country reported its biggest one-day rise in new coronavirus cases.

The authorities said they so far had recorded 1,264 confirmed cases, an increase of 228 in 24 hours, and ordered that all vehicle, rail and pedestrian checkpoints, as well as the country's maritime borders, be closed from Monday.