Moscow: He has tested positive for the Covid- 19, as the country’s number of confirmed cases surged past 100,000 after its largest daily increase, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced on Thursday.

In a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mishustin said he has to “observe self-isolation” to protect his colleagues, suggesting a temporary acting PM. Putin swiftly signed a decree appointing First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as a temporary replacement. The president assured Mishustin that contracting COVID-19 “can happen to anyone” and that no major decisions would be taken without his input.

Putin told Mishustin that “I hope that you stay able to work”, who is the highest Russian official to become infected. “Call me as soon as you arrive to the hospital,” said Putin, who appointed Mishustin in a surprise decision in January, picking the formerly obscure tax service chief to replace longtime premier Dmitry Medvedev. According to the Kremlin website, Putin has not held any face-to-face meetings for weeks, and was last shown in the same room as Mishustin on March 24.

According to the Government daily Covid- 19 tally update, a spike of 7,099 confirmed infections in the last 24 hours brought Russia’s total to 106,498 cases and 1,073 deaths.