Putin’s aide is taken to hospital with the virus
A SENIOR aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin has been admitted to hospital after contracting the coronavirus, just days after US Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary also tested positive.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was sent to hospital in the latest in a series of setbacks for the Russian leader as the country struggles to contain the growing outbreak.
The announcement of Mr Peskov’s case came a day after Mr Putin announced Russia was easing some of its nationwide lockdown restrictions.
Mr Peskov is not the only top Russian government official to come down with the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin revealed on April 30 he had tested positive for the virus, as have two other government ministers.
Russia has reported 232,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 2,100 virus-related deaths as of Tuesday, figures experts say are likely significant undercounts.
More than 80,000 people with the virus have died in the US.
President Donald Trump is keen for some restrictions to be lifted so the US economy does not suffer but health officials have warned against reopening economies too quickly.
There have been more than 4.2 million confirmed cases of the virus worldwide and more than 287,000 deaths.
Meanwhile, the UK has denied that those coming from France will be exempt from moves to quarantine international visitors.
The comments from Downing
Street come despite the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a phone call with French president Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, stating that “no quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage”.
Talk of an exemption caused the European Commission to warn that no country would be allowed to discriminate against another.