The Russian Minister of Energy, Alexander Novak, tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, Interfax reported on Tuesday. He shows no major symptoms and is in good health according to reports.
“The minister feels good. He has no symptoms,” an energy ministry spokeswoman told Reuters. He is set to take part in The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of the OPEC group via video conference on Wednesday despite the positive test result. The Russian Prime Minister had said that Novak tested positive earlier on Tuesday and that he will be receiving treatment in Moscow. Novak has been Russia’s Energy minister since 2012 and also been an important figure in drafting the OPEC+ Agreement.
Russia had manufactured the first batch of its Coronavirus vaccine, ‘Sputnik V’ developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute on Saturday. The vaccine will be administered to health personnel first in Russia and then given to the public. By December-January almost 5 million doses will be produced in a month according to reports.
