Moscow, May 28 (IANS): Authorities in Moscow will begin the second stage of withdrawal of restrictions imposed over the coronavirus pandemic on June 1, the Russian capital city's Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

"Since June 1, we will begin the second stage of withdrawal of restrictions, reopening many retail and services industry businesses, and allowing residents to walk in parks, albeit with restrictions," TASS News Agency quoted the Mayor as saying in a blog post on Wednesday.

"Residents will be allowed to go out of general outdoors walks between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., but only three times a week at most - two times during working days and one time during weekend," he said, adding that schedule of "outdoors days" will be published at the mos.ru website, Yandex website and mobile applications.

The Mayor urged the residents to limit their walk radius by 2 km away from their homes.

Moscow residents will not need digital passes for walks and fitness outdoors, Sobyanin said in the blog.

"Digital passes will not be needed for walks and fitness outdoors," he added.

The Mayor also proposed Wednesday to restore operation of non-grocery stores and a portion of the service industry starting June 1.

Also on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the Mayor said that the COVID-19 situation in Moscow, the worst-affected region, and across Russia is gradually stabilizing, TASS News Agency reported.

According to the data cited by the President, the number of coronavirus tests conducted daily grew twofold from late April to late May: from 25,000 to 50,000.

As of Thursday morning, Russia reported 370,680 COVID-19 cases, the third highest in the world, with 3,968 deaths.