Coronavirus: Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin says he tested positive for virus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin says that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Mikhail Mishustin says he has told Vladimir Putin he will self-isolate. Picture: AP

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Friday that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the highest-ranking Russian official known to have been infected.

Mr Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin during a video call that he would self-isolate but planned to stay in touch on key policy issues. It wasn’t clear when the two men last met.

Since early in the outbreak, the Russian President has minimised meetings and switched to holding daily video calls with officials.

First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov will temporarily perform Mr Mishustin’s duties.

Mr Mishustin, a 54-year-old former tax chief, was named Prime Minister in January. During the video call, which was recorded and later televised, he didn’t say if he had COVID-19 symptoms or anything about his general condition. He displayed no signs of illness and spoke without difficulty. Mr Putin wished Mr Mishustin a swift recovery and said he hoped the Prime Minister would continue taking part in drafting policies to shore up the Russian economy, which has been hurt by the virus pandemic.

“What happened to you, could happen to anyone,” Mr Putin said.

“Along with other cabinet members and colleagues from the presidential office, you have undoubtedly been in the zone of high risk. No matter how you limit contacts, it’s impossible to avoid communication with people while drafting decisions.”

He asked Mr Mishustin to call him after checking into a hospital. Russians who have the virus but light or no symptoms are allowed to stay home, and it wasn’t clear if Mr Mishustin’s hospitalisation reflected the gravity of his condition or was an extra precaution.

“I hope you will remain in good physical shape and take an active part in drafting decisions that we discussed today,” Mr Putin said in a reference to a call with top officials earlier. “Those decisions will not be made without your participation, your input.”

In Russia, the Prime Minister oversees the economy and ­answers to the President.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who leads a government panel managing the outbreak, said Mr Mishustin had undergone regular testing and strictly ­observed safety protocols to avoid exposure or spreading the virus.

“It’s a signal to all of us — let’s drop all that populist talk” about lifting restrictions, Mr Sobyanin said in televised comments.

Mr Mishustin sent a similar message to the Russian people, saying that his personal situation underlined the need for strictly observing a government- ordered lockdown. “Please remember, that the date when the country could return to a normal way of living depends on everyone’s discipline and will,” he said.

Mr Mishustin’s spokesman, Boris Belyakov, said the Prime Minister mostly relied on video calls to communicate during the pandemic and had direct contact with a very narrow circle of people, who are now quarantined and will be tested for the coronavirus.

Officials reported a record daily spike of 7099 new confirmed cases on Thursday, which brought the country’s total caseload to 106,498, including 1073 deaths.

Friday marked the start of long May holidays, a period when many Russians flock to country homes and meet friends.

Earlier this week, Mr Putin extended a partial economic shutdown imposed in late March to run through to May 11, the end of the holiday. Regional authorities across Russia have similarly prolonged lockdowns obliging most people except those working in a few vital industries to stay home. Only visits to nearby stores and pharmacies and walks with dogs are allowed in most cities.

AP