Russia confirms first 2 cases of novel coronavirus

MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia has confirmed its first two cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday in the Trans-Baikal and Tyumen regions.

The patients are Chinese nationals who have been hospitalized and are in stable condition, said Anna Popova, head of Russia's consumer rights and human wellbeing watchdog Rospotrebnadzor.

Russia will take measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, adding the country is ready to offer assistance to China.