Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday revealed that he tested positive for the coronavirus and was receiving treatment in hospital.
“I am ill. I’m being treated,” Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies TASS and Interfax. Peskov is the fourth senior government official to have fallen ill, after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev said they tested positive for the coronavirus.
None were reported to be in a serious condition, with only Mishustin in hospital who was still holding some meetings by video link. Peskov told TASS news agency that he was last in direct contact with Putin “over a month ago.” The Russian leader has been staying at his residence outside Moscow for several weeks and is carrying out meetings and speeches via video link.
Peskov, 52, has served as Putin’s spokesman since 2000. He has not held his usual daily telephone briefings with reporters since May 6. Putin on Monday announced that a strict national lockdown would be eased starting Tuesday, even though the country’s rate of new infections shows no sign of slowing.
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