BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is resurrected despite a mild fever, the first-term Peronist leader said Saturday.
“I’m in good physical shape,” the president, who turned 62 on Friday, said in a tweet. At the beginning of this year, he had received the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the corona virus.
“I would have liked to end my birthday without this news, but I am excited,” added Fernandez.
He’s in isolation, under COVID-19 protocols, but continues to work. Argentina’s vice president is the country’s former leader, Cristina Fernandez, who is not related to the president.
The Russian Gamaleya Institute, which developed the vaccine, made an open statement to Alberto Fernandez, saying that Sputnik V is 91.6% effective against infection and 100% effective against severe cases of coronavirus.
“If the infection is confirmed, the vaccination ensures a speedy recovery without serious symptoms. We wish you a speedy recovery! it said.
Argentina has been stuck in varying degrees from the pandemic for over a year. COVID-19 has killed more than 56,000 people in the country to date. So far, 682,868 Argentines have been fully vaccinated, with the elderly and health workers given priority, the government said.
Reporting by Eliana Raszewski and Hugh Bronstein in Buenos Aires Editing by William Mallard and Matthew Lewis