'We shall avoid mistakes of others on coronavirus': Putin

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said Russia should learn from the mistakes of other countries fighting the new coronavirus.

Speaking during an online meeting with scientific and medical experts, Putin noted that the peak of the outbreak has not yet been reached in Russia.

"We shall not learn from our own mistakes but from our scientific and medical experience," he said.

Russian experts said they can speed up tests of a new coronavirus vaccine.

Rinat Maksyutov, head of the state Vector lab, reported to Putin that trials involving volunteers could begin in May instead of June as earlier planned.

Maksyutov said more than 300 people had already volunteered to take part in clinical tests.

Putin asked experts whether it would be possible to lift some of the restrictions earlier to ease the pain for the economy. They said next week would show if the lockdown has helped.

Russia reported 1,154 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the country's total caseload to 7,497, with 58 deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.