Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin tests positive for COVID-19

May 01: Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has tested positive for the coronavirus. 54 year old Mishustin, who was appointed prime minister in January, informed President Vladimir Putin of his diagnosis and is in self isolation. In a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mishustin said he has to “observe self-isolation” to protect his colleagues, suggesting a temporary acting PM.

Russian Prime Minister Mishustin has told President Putin that he's tested positive for COVID and is going into self isolation, recommends a Deputy PM to run the gov in the meantime.

Curious Putin sign off: “call me when you get to the hospital…”https://t.co/i3iykaA44D pic.twitter.com/0d1n8tVWDv

— Matthew Bodner (@mattb0401) April 30, 2020

He has temporarily stepped back from his role as Prime Minister as he battles the disease. He nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov to take over as acting prime minister. “Call me as soon as you arrive to the hospital,” said Putin, who appointed Mishustin in a surprise decision in January, picking the formerly obscure tax service chief to replace longtime premier Dmitry Medvedev. The Prime Minister’s diagnosis comes as Russia’s COVID-19 infections have surpassed 106,000, with 1,073 fatalities, according to data from U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.