Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will self-isolate after individuals close to him tested positive for the coronavirus.

       The news came from the Kremlin in a transcript of a call between Putin and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, where Putin said he will attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, planned later this week in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, virtually instead of in person.

       Support our journalism. Subscribe today. ChevronRight

       The Kremlin also said Putin is “absolutely healthy” and has so far not tested positive for the coronavirus. The Russian president was vaccinated against the coronavirus in March with his country’s own Sputnik V.

       Putin met in person with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Kremlin on Monday. Assad said he and his wife recovered from covid-19 in March.

       Read more:

       Biden wants 70 percent of the world to get vaccinated. It’s not even close.

       Want to skip the vaccine in Russia? You could be suspended from work.

       Here’s just how unequal the global coronavirus vaccine rollout has been