Moscow blames hackers for coronavirus permit problems as cases rise

A medical specialist outside a hospital for patients infected with Covid-19 on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, April 12. — Reuters

MOSCOW: Authorities in Moscow on April 13 blamed hackers for bringing down a new website meant to issue travel permits to the city's residents to use during the coronavirus lockdown after cases of the new virus rose by a record daily amount.

Russia reported 2,558 new cases on April 13, bringing the overall nationwide tally to 18,328. Eighteen people diagnosed with the virus died overnight, pushing the death toll to 148.