Mayor says Moscow's real coronavirus case tally is more than triple the official figures

Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said on Thursday that the real number of coronavirus cases in the Russian capital was actually around 300,000, a figure that is more than three times higher than the official total, according to local media.

The latest official tally of confirmed cases in Moscow is 92,676 as of Thursday morning.

In an interview on state news channel Rossiya-24, Sobyanin vowed to further step up screening and testing of people in the city.

"Our task is to identify as many of these people as possible," he said, adding it was "clear that there are even more really sick people in the city" than those identified through testing.

Sobyanin later also announced lockdown measures in the Russian capital would be extended until May 31 as new coronavirus cases surged.

"The self-isolation regime of citizens will be extended until May 31," he said on his website. "It's still too early to open restaurants, theaters, and sport facilities." 

While from May 12, some restrictions in the city will be eased as industrial and construction companies reopen. 

(With input from agencies)