Putin Says He Has a Cold, Tells Officials It Is Not Covid-19

  • President was heard coughing repeatedly at earlier meeting
  • Putin tells Security Council officials to get booster shots
Vladimir Putin during a videoconference on Oct. 11.Photographer: Yevgeny Paulin/TASS/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

President Vladimir Putin said he has a cold and he isn’t suffering from Covid-19, after he was heard repeatedly coughing at a televised meeting with officials.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine,” Putin told a videoconference Monday with his Security Council, also shown on state television. “They do tests practically on a daily basis not only for Covid-19 but for all other infections and everything is ok.”