SAINT PETERSBURG (AFP) - Authorities in Saint Petersburg, which is hosting a series of Euro 2020 matches, said on Monday (June 14) they were tightening anti-coronavirus restrictions in an effort to curb a new spike in infections.

Officials in Saint Petersburg, Russia's worst-hit city after Moscow that's expected to host thousands of fans from Europe, have earlier said that all necessary measures will be taken to protect fans and players during Europe's biggest football extravaganza.

From Thursday, food courts and children's play areas in shopping malls in Russia's second city will be closed and no food will be sold at Euro-2020 fan zones, authorities said in a statement on Monday.

Cinemas will be operating at 50 per cent capacity, down from 75 per cent now, and restaurants will be closed between 2am and 6am.

"Guests at all public events including those held in the open air are obliged to use masks," city authorities said.

Many Russians are refusing to wear masks on public transport and in other public places.

Covid-19 infections are once again on the rise in Russia as a vaccination campaign is stalling. At the weekend, authorities in Moscow announced a "non-working" week in the Russian capital, with non-essential workers told to stay home.

Saint Petersburg has been selected to host seven Euro 2020 matches - including a quarter-final - at the June 11-July 11 tournament which was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Russian health officials have registered more than five million coronavirus cases and more than 126,000 deaths, but some experts say officials vastly under report fatalities.

Russia registered Sputnik V, the world's first coronavirus vaccine, in August 2020, but authorities have struggled to ramp up vaccination efforts.