PM wishes ‘speedy recovery’ to COVID-19 positive Russian counterpart

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has wished his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin good health and speedy recovery from the novel coronavirus.

In a tweet, the prime minister said Pakistan stands together with Russian friends in battling the challenge of coronavirus, adding that the coronavirus is a common challenge.

“Wishing PM of Russia Mikhail Mishustin a speedy recovery and good health. Corona virus is a common challenge and we stand together with our Russian friends in battling this challenge,” he said.

Wishing PM of Russia Mikhail Mishustin a speedy recovery and good health. Corona virus is a common challenge and we stand together with our Russian friends in battling this challenge.@mfa_russia @governmentRF

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 2, 2020

Earlier Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 during a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin broadcast on the state-run television channel.

Mishustin, who was appointed prime minister in January, has played a leading role in Russia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. He is self-isolating in a hospital and has temporarily stepped back from his work as prime minister.

Putin signed a decree to appoint First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as acting prime minister.

“I have to observe self-isolation and follow orders of doctors. This is necessary to protect my colleagues,” he told Putin, promising to be in constant contact “on all the main issues.”

During the televised meeting, Putin said that what happened to Mishustin could happen to anyone, and then asked him to call from the hospital.

Mishustin later told a business daily that he has a high fever. Cabinet members and staffers who have direct contact with Mishustin in the past few weeks will be isolated and tested for coronavirus, his press secretary told reporters.

Mishustin’s diagnosis comes as Russia’s number of coronavirus infections surpassed 100,000 in a record one-day surge. Putin began working remotely at the start of April, a week after visiting Russia’s main coronavirus hospital in Moscow whose chief doctor tested positive for the deadly virus soon after the president’s visit.