Cluster in the Kremlin: Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on Thursday that dozens of people around him were suffering from Covid-19, forcing him to self-isolate, an illustration of the country's difficulties in stemming the epidemic.
The people concerned are in particular bodyguards of the head of state, according to the Russian presidency.
Read also Covid-19: Putin isolates himself after cases in his entourage and relies on the Sputnik V vaccine
"
In my entourage (...) it is not one, not two, but several dozen people who have fallen ill with the coronavirus,
" Putin announced during a meeting by videoconference at the Security Treaty Organization collective (OTSC), meeting in summit in Tajikistan.
Isolation of "at least a week"
“
I had to cancel my visit to Dushanbe at the last moment, I'm really sorry,
” he added.
According to Dmitry Peskov, his spokesperson, Putin, 68, vaccinated since March, must remain in isolation for "
at least a week
" because of this unprecedented outbreak since the start of the epidemic in the inner circle of master of the Kremlin.
Read alsoAt the Saint Petersburg Forum, Putin displays the post-Covid "return to normal"
Among those infected, some provided "
security
" for the president and others were in charge of aspects of his "
daily life
", added Peskov, without giving further details.
On the other hand, he assures that he is not aware of "
any serious case
", stressing that "
practically all those
" who work with Putin are vaccinated.
According to Dmitry Peskov, the functioning of the Kremlin is not affected and the president himself "
works normally
" from his residence in the suburbs of Moscow.
Vladimir Poutine announced Tuesday that he had to isolate himself after a “
very close
” contact with a collaborator who turned out to be ill.
Immunized for nearly six months by the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, he added that the serum “will
really demonstrate its high level of protection.
"
Less than 30% of Russians vaccinated
The irruption of the Covid in the close entourage of the president underlines the Russian difficulties to fight against the epidemic, between a vaccination which slips and the very random respect of the rules of distancing and the wearing of the mask.
Read alsoCovid-19: new daily death record in Russia
Russia is one of the states in the world where the pandemic has claimed the most lives. The country has been particularly bereaved by the Delta variant which has been wreaking havoc since June. According to the statistics agency Rosstat, some 350,000 Russians had died of Covid-19 by the end of July 2021. And according to a count from the Gogov site, only 27.5% of the Russian population is fully vaccinated to date and since December 2020.
Initially, the Kremlin, which has four national vaccines, set a target of reaching 60% vaccination by September.
Despite strong promotion, Sputnik V, Moscow's flagship vaccine, is also experiencing difficulties in export, despite studies establishing its effectiveness.
It has still not been approved by the World Health Organization or by the European Union.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassili Nebenzia on Wednesday denounced as "
clearly discriminatory
" the compulsory vaccination to be able to access the UN General Assembly from September 21 to 27, Sputnik V not appearing among the sera authorized.
A drastic device was in place
The master of the Kremlin had only very recently resumed events in public, until then protected by a drastic device to prevent him from coming into contact with the coronavirus.
Before announcing his isolation, Putin received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and many Paralympic athletes returning from Tokyo on Monday in Moscow.
Until a few weeks ago, the overwhelming majority of his engagements were made by video and the few people who could meet him had to undergo a period of isolation of fourteen days.
Since strict containment in April and May 2020, the Russian authorities have refused to introduce new large-scale restrictive measures in order to preserve a fragile economy. The isolation of Vladimir Putin comes before the holding of legislative elections this weekend, scheduled for three days to limit the risk of contamination. According to his spokesperson, the president will vote online.
