Third Russian Cabinet member diagnosed with COVID-19

Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. She is now the third Russian Cabinet member to test positive for the disease.

“The results of the [COVID-19] test are positive, the minister has already been at home for a long time, she is carrying out working sessions via video conference, participating in meetings and negotiations in online formats,” her press secretary, Anna Usacheva, told RBC. 

According to Usacheva, the Culture Minister has mild symptoms and there is no question of her being hospitalized as of yet.

Lyubimova’s diagnosis comes after both the country’s Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, and the Construction Minister, Vladimir Yakushev, were diagnosed with the coronavirus last week.

Usacheva later confirmed that First Deputy Minister Sergey Obryvalin was appointed acting head of the Culture Ministry, in connection with Lyubimova’s illness.