BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentine President Alberto Fernandez tested positive for the new coronavirus and is in a good mood despite a mild fever, the Peronist leader said in his first term on Saturday.
“I am in good physical condition,” said the president, who turned 62 on Friday, in a tweet. He had received the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V earlier this year.
“I would have liked to end my birthday without this news, but I am in a good mood,” added Fernandez.
It is isolated, under the COVID-19 protocols, but it continues to work. The vice president of Argentina is the former leader of the country, Cristina Fernandez, who is not related to the president.
The Gamaleya Institute of Russia, which developed the vaccine, issued an open statement to Alberto Fernandez, saying that Sputnik V is 91.6% effective against infections and 100% effective against severe cases of coronavirus.
“If the infection is confirmed, the vaccination guarantees a quick recovery and without severe symptoms. We wish you a speedy recovery! ” said.
Argentina has been in a blockade of varying degrees for more than a year against the pandemic. COVID-19 has killed more than 56,000 people in the country to date. Some 682,868 Argentines have been fully vaccinated so far, with priority for the elderly and health professionals, the government said.
Reporting by Eliana Raszewski and Hugh Bronstein in Buenos Aires Edition by William Mallard and Matthew Lewis