A federal monitoring service on Thursday reported 29,935 new cases over the previous 24 hours, bringing the country's total caseload to nearly 3 million, the world's fourth highest.

Russia has been experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases in recent months following lockdown quarantines temporarily imposed in most of the country's regions earlier this year.

Almost 54,000 people have died from the disease in the country, according to the federal monitoring service, which provides daily statistics.

A vaccine, Sputnik V, produced by the Russian state is being administered on a voluntary basis for at-risk individuals, particularly emergency workers and teachers, in Moscow and other major cities.

The vaccine was introduced just four months ago, in August, and supplies remain rather limited.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Thursday that restaurant industry workers, athletes and law enforcement officers would also be eligible to take the vaccine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the vaccine, saying one of his daughters took it without any side effect worse than a slight, temporary fever.

Putin, 68, said last week that he had not taken the vaccine because he was older than the recommended age group for the testing phase. He said he would take the vaccine as soon as possible.

Australian Associated Press