Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov hospitalized after testing positive for Coronavirus

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been hospitalized after testing positive for Coronavirus.

“I am ill. I’m being treated,” Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies TASS and Interfax.

Peskov said he had last met Putin in person over a month ago, the TASS news agency reported. But the Kremlin has repeatedly said Putin’s health is protected and that he gets the best medical treatment Russia has to offer.

Putin’s spokesman is the latest high profile government or Kremlin official to fall ill with the new virus.

Russia has confirmed 10,899 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising its total number to 232,243, its coronavirus response center said.