Putin in self-isolation resulting from COVID circumstances within the inside circle | Nationwide information

By Mitchel Last updated Sep 14, 2021

MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin went into self-isolation after people in his inner circle became infected with the corona virus, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, adding that the Führer himself tested negative for COVID-19.

Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V, held several indoor public engagements on Monday, even saying he may need to be quarantined soon. A counselor at the time tried to suggest that he was speaking in general and insisted on Tuesday that nobody’s health was at risk.

During a daily conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was “perfectly healthy” but had come into contact with someone who had contracted the virus. When asked whether Putin had tested negative for the virus, Peskow said “definitely yes”.

Peskov did not say when Putin started self-isolation, when he tested negative, how long he would remain in self-isolation, or who was infected among the president’s contacts. He said there were several cases.

The Russian authorities have been regularly criticized for underestimating the pandemic and for rarely imposing measures to control it, even as cases rise. The death toll in Russia is currently at the highest level of the pandemic, at just under 800 deaths per day. However, there are currently hardly any virus restrictions.

Putin hardly ever wore a mask in public, though apparently he works largely remotely and was rarely seen in public for a while before he was vaccinated.

On Monday, Putin attended several public events, most of which were indoors and where images on television showed that no one was wearing masks. He shook hands with Russian Paralympists and put medals on them, took part in military exercises with other officials and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he also shook hands with. Assad tested positive for the coronavirus in March and later recovered; It is not clear if he is vaccinated.

During the meeting with the Paralympians, Putin signaled that he was aware of related cases.

“There are also problems with this COVID in my environment,” the Russian head of state was quoted by the state news agency RIA Novosti. “We have to see what is really going on there. I think I may have to quarantine myself soon. Lots of people around me are sick. “

Peskov later said Putin spoke “figuratively”.

When asked on Tuesday why Putin was continuing to hold public events, Peskov said the decision to self-isolate was made after “doctors finished their tests and procedures.” Peskow said without explaining that “nobody’s health is at risk” at the events on Monday.

Russia’s daily coronavirus infections fell from over 20,000 to around 17,000 in the past month – but experts have questioned how Russia counts cases and deaths.

Despite high case numbers, Russia is struggling to vaccinate its citizens and its rates are lagging behind many other countries. As of Friday, only 32% of the population had received at least one shot of a coronavirus vaccine and only 27% were fully vaccinated.

Despite the general lack of restrictions, Putin has occasionally made extreme efforts to protect himself from contagion. Peskow has confirmed media reports that people who meet with Putin in person or attend events with him must undergo “rigorous tests” or quarantine beforehand.

Officials even set up special “disinfection tunnels” in his residence and the Kremlin last year that anyone who met Putin had to go through. The visitors were sprayed with a disinfectant mist, although it is not clear how effective this is. Putin also once visited a hospital in a full protective suit.

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