Russian Energy Minister Novak forced to cancel Far East trip after testing positive for coronavirus, press pool also evacuated
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has tested positive for Covid-19, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told a meeting in Blagoveshchensk on Tuesday. His spokeswoman said that Novak appears to have no symptoms and "feels well."
According to the PM, Novak will continue to work remotely. The 48-year-old native of Norilsk has held his post since 2012. He had visited the Far Eastern city (in the Amur region, a seven-hour flight from Moscow) to attend a series of meetings on boosting the region’s economy.
"Unfortunately, Alexander Novak has contracted the coronavirus. Let’s wish him a speedy recovery. In fact, he came all the way here and returned to Moscow without taking part [in the meetings]," Mishustin explained.
Meanwhile, according to news agency TASS, the entire pool of journalists accompanying Mishustin during his trip to the Far East has also left Blagoveshchensk after new coronavirus cases were confirmed.
The Russian government’s press service reported on Monday that, during routine tests, some journalists from the group had tested positive for Covid-19. The reporters were isolated and later sent to Moscow under medical supervision. The rest of the pool has now followed them.
Energy Ministry Spokesperson Olga Golant said that Novak will take part in a meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring committee set to be held on August 19.
Also on rt.com Another Russian Covid-19 vaccine on the way? Siberian lab begins 2nd phase of trials just days after registration of Sputnik V"Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak tested positive for Covid-19 during a working trip to the Far East. He doesn’t have any symptoms and feels well. The energy minister will continue to fulfill his duties remotely. In particular, on August 19, he will take part in a meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring committee via video link," she said.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev had earlier been forced to suspend his own participation in the working trip after also contracting coronavirus.
Mishustin's Far Eastern tour began on August 13 and is due to end on August 18. During his trip, Mishustin has visited Chukotka, Kamchatka and the Magadan and Amur regions. He did not travel to regional capital Vladivostok or to Khabarovsk, the scene of a series of protests this summer.
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