The country's coronavirus monitoring centre confirmed the death of an elderly woman with the virus at a hospital in Moscow.

The 79-year-old tested positive after being taken to hospital last Friday, the centre said.

The woman, who died of pneumonia in intensive care, had other severe health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

"The patient’s close contacts have been identified and put under medical observation. None of them has severe symptoms of the disease," the centre said.

Russia has identified 147 cases of coronavirus so far, with the majority in Moscow, state news agency Tass says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the situation with coronavirus in the country is "under control".