Russian Energy Minister Novak Tests Positive for COVID-19

Sputnik News

05:42 GMT 18.08.2020(updated 06:09 GMT 18.08.2020)

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who was himself diagnosed with COVID-19 in May and successfully completed treatment, was the one to deliver the news.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has tested positive for the coronavirus, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, Alexander Novak fell ill with the coronavirus. Let's wish him a speedy recovery with all our hearts", Mishustin said at a meeting of the government commission on social-economic development of the Far East in Blagoveshchensk.

According to the Russian Energy Ministry, Novak is asymptomatic and is feeling well. He is expected to join an OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee via videoconference on Wednesday.

The news comes just days after Russia registered the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, named Sputnik V. The Russian Ministry of Health said that Sputnik V has undergone all the necessary checks and proven to be capable of building immunity against the virus.

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