A staff member in Russia's government cabinet has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19

Update: Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s spokesperson, Boris Belyakov, told the television network Dozhd that one staff member of the government cabinet is suspected of having contracted COVID-19. The individual’s positive test has been sent for confirmation and he is now under quarantine. Those who had contact with this person are now under observation and the government’s office space is being disinfected. Meanwhile, multiple sources told BBC Russian that at least four staffers in the government’s cabinet have allegedly tested positive for COVID-19.

A staff member in Russia’s government cabinet has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, a source close to the government told Meduza. Another source in the cabinet also confirmed that someone working for the government’s staff is suspected of having contracted coronavirus. 

The individual, who is reportedly asymptomatic, apparently tested positive on March 25. The person in question did not come into work on March 26. The government’s office has not declared a quarantine and Thursday’s cabinet meeting took place as scheduled.

“For some reason, they haven’t even checked all the infected person’s contacts,” says Meduza source with ties to the cabinet. Meduza source inside the government pointed out, however, that an accurate diagnosis requires more than one positive test result. “It’s only a suspected case right now,” the source explained.

The government's coronavirus task force told Meduza that it is not aware of these reports. Meduza has also asked the government’s press service to comment on this information.

Russia’s government cabinet is responsible for organizing and coordinating the country’s fight against the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin heads the cabinet’s coordinating council and Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova supervises the federal task force. The last time President Putin met with these officials for an update on COVID-19’s spread in Russia was two days ago, on March 24.

As of 11 a.m. Moscow time on March 26, Russia had confirmed 840 cases of COVID-19, including two fatal cases.

On March 25, President Putin canceled work for all non-essential laborers between March 30 and April 3.