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Russia is temporarily halting passenger train service between its two largest cities and the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad as it tries to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

State-owned Russian Railroads will halt service from Moscow and Saint Petersburg to Kaliningrad effective April 6, state media reported. The rail trips take 20 and 26 hours respectively and pass through Belarus and Lithuania.

Passenger train service will also be halted from the enclave to mainland Russia.

Russian Railroads did not say when service would be resumed.

Kaliningrad is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania with an opening to the Baltic Sea.

Russia, like many countries, has imposed strict travel measures, including banning international flights, in an attempt to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia rose by 658 on April 5 to 5,389. There have been 45 deaths in Russia from the virus.

With reporting by Interfax, Tass