Putin says fourth minister had coronavirus after cases pass 250,000

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia’s education minister had caught the new coronavirus, making him at least the sixth senior official to be swept up in the pandemic that has officially infected more than 250,000 people nationwide.

Putin, speaking at a televised government meeting via video link, said it was “no secret” that Valery Falkov, 41, the minister of science and higher education, had tested positive and recovered, and asked him how he was feeling.

“Thank you Vladimir Vladimirovich, I’m better already and I’m actively back at work,” the minister replied.