"Not Covid," Says Putin, Seen Repeatedly Coughing On State Television
NDTV
Russian President Vladimir Putin went into self-isolation last month when he disclosed that dozens of his staff had been affected by a COVID-19 outbreak.
President Vladimir Putin said he has a cold and he isn't suffering from COVID-19, after he was heard repeatedly coughing at a televised meeting with officials.
"Don't worry, everything's fine," Putin told a videoconference Monday with his Security Council, also shown on state television. "They do tests practically on a daily basis not only for COVID-19 but for all other infections and everything is ok."
That unannounced broadcast followed an earlier one Putin held with officials to discuss agriculture, in which he was seen and heard coughing on numerous occasions.
Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the upper house of parliament, interrupted Putin at the Security Council after that event to ask about his health. "Everyone got worried," she said.
