Russia surpassed China and reached the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases on Monday, when the numbers hit above 87,000, after pressure piles up on Government to ease lockdown restrictions for businesses to help save the rattled economy.

Russia, the world’s largest country by territory, has been on lockdown since late March after President Vladimir Putin announced the closure of most public spaces. The lockdown was supposed to be lifted on April 30 and Putin has not purred if he plans to extend them.

Anna Popova, the head of Russia’s safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor advocates extension of lockdown until May 12.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishushin, earlier had asked his government to submit proposals to ease some of the restrictions on businesses, on Thursday. Many firms have already warned that they risk going bankrupt if the lockdown continues, and thousands of workers have been laid off.

Mishustin advised in a meeting that Moscow needs to consider a step-by-step cancellation of restrictions on certain companies…operations.

On Monday alone, 6,198 new cases of Coronavirus were reported on Monday, taking the total number to 87,147, with 794 fatalities.

Moscow mulling to open two new 1500-bed hospitals—one in the defense ministry’s Patriot museum and the other in the Crocus exhibition center.