Russia: Crimea's PM Gotsanyuk Contracts Coronavirus

Hours ago, Prime Minister of Crimea Yury Gotsanyuk announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.

“The coronavirus test that I regularly do gave a positive result,” Gotsanyuk wrote on his Facebook page.

“Following the recommendations of doctors, I am on self-isolation until a full recovery,” Gotsanyuk added. “Also decided to go on vacation during this period.”

“Despite the unpleasant situation, I continue to work remotely, I am constantly in touch with the Head of the Republic, my deputies and colleagues,” he asserted.

The prime minister called on Russians to be careful amid this new strain of coronavirus and “not neglect safety measures,” urging them to “take care of yourself and your loved ones, be healthy.”

Russia has so far confirmed 3,021,964 cases of coronavirus and 54,226 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic, including 29,258 new cases and 567 deaths on Saturday.

According to TASS, the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry may develop analogue of US President Donald Trump’s coronavirus treatment by end of 2021.

The results may be presented as early as the end of next year, Center’s Director Alexander Gintsburg told TASS.

“Yes, on some directions we have now obtained grants and.. one of my main laboratories is working exclusively on that,” Gintsburg asserted.

“These are monoclonal antibodies, these are actually those antibodies that protect in the plasma of those who had the infection, only they will be obtained via genetic engineering outside of the human body and in a concentrated form,” he explained.

“By the end of next year, I think, I will tell you about positive results, or maybe even sooner, maybe even in autumn,” he affirmed.