Russian President Vladimir Putin will be self-isolating himself after Coronavirus cases were reported in his surroundings, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, adding he will not be travelling to Tajikistan this week for regional security meetings. Several members of his entourage had fallen sick after contracting Covid-19.
Putin is “absolutely” healthy, the Kremlin said and does not have the disease.
"In connection with identified coronavirus cases in his circle, he will observe a self-isolation regime for a certain period,'' said to Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon over a phone call.
Putin was scheduled to attend regional regional security meetings in person later this week in the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, which will now be conducted through a video conference.
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The Kremlin informed that the Russian president decided to self-isolate after he had a meeting with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin on Monday. The decision was taken after consultation with the doctors. Putin on Monday had also met Russian Paralympians and visited western Russia to behold joint military drills with Belarus.
The Kremlin chief's choice to self-isolate proposes an expected break in the meticulous system set up to keep Putin, who turns 69 one month from now, to keep him sound and away from anybody with Covid-19.
Kremlin guests are required to go through specific sanitization tunnels, Putin has had two shots of Russia grown Sputnik V Covid vaccine, journalists going to his events need to go through numerous PCR tests, and individuals he meets are approached to isolate in advance and be tested for Coronavirus.
The Kremlin leader is in contact with those infected with Covid disease in his entourage, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media.
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“Of course we know who fell ill in the president’s entourage and the self-isolation (regime) does not directly affect the president’s work. But it’s just that in-person meetings will not take place for a while. But that does not affect their frequency and the president will continue his activity via video conferences,” Peskov said.
Peskov said the president has tested negative for Covid-19 and “is absolutely healthy.”