Putin Says He'll Self-Isolate for Several Days as 'Several Dozen' Around Him Have Contracted COVID

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier confirmed to the national cabinet that he is self-isolating after coming into contact with several coronavirus-positive people, adding that one of them was inoculated against the coronavirus but did not manage to get a booster shot on time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on 16 September that he is currently self-isolating as "several dozen" of his acquaintances have tested positive for COVID-19. Putin made the announcement during the opening of the CSTO Leaders Summit.

"You know that unfortunately I had to cancel my visit to Dushanbe at the last moment. I regret this a lot, but this is due to the fact that coronavirus cases were detected in my closest entourage, not just in one or two people, in several dozen. Now I have to self-isolate for several days", Putin said at the summit, speaking via video link.

During his address, Putin also called for closer cooperation within the organisation, noting that the situation in the SCTO's area of responsibility is unstable and carries risks for the region.

"As was already noted, the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and on the external borders of the member states is unstable and carries new, truly acute challenges and risks for the security of our countries", Putin said at the summit of CSTO leaders.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian president was feeling good and "perfectly healthy" while in self-isolation.

The Kremlin officially announced that Putin would self-isolate on 14 September, after he mentioned several people among his acquaintances had contracted the coronavirus. Later, Putin tested negative for the virus.

The Russian president is also expected to join the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) via video link.