Putin Announces the Impact of COVID-19 Inside the Kremlin: "The Situation is Difficult"

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that dozens of people in his circle have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, forcing him to undergo quarantine since the beginning of the week. He stated, "As you know, COVID-19 cases have been detected among my associates. It’s not just one or two people but dozens." He was speaking via video call during a meeting for a security alliance led by Moscow. The TASS news agency reported that Putin will have to spend "a few days" in self-isolation due to the COVID-19 cases among his close aides. Putin was participating via video at a summit of a Russia-led security bloc hosted by Tajikistan. Earlier, Russian media reported that Putin would implement a self-isolation system after some associates tested positive for the virus. The Kremlin clarified that Putin will not attend a security conference in Tajikistan this week but will participate through video technology. In a phone call with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, Putin said that due to the detection of COVID-19 cases among his aides, he would undergo quarantine for a certain period.