Putin in isolation after COVID scare among inner circle

Day before beginning period of self-isolation, Russian leader met Paralympians, officials and Syria’s president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in isolation after people in his inner circle became infected with the coronavirus, but the leader himself has tested negative for COVID-19, according to the Kremlin.

The Russian leader explained the situation to a government meeting on Tuesday by video conference, after the Kremlin said he was “absolutely” healthy and did not have the disease himself.

Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V, held several public engagements indoors on Monday, most of which were indoors and where it appeared from images on TV that no one wore masks.