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Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin chairs a meeting with his deputies via video link in Moscow, Russia April 20, 2020. Image Credit: Reuters

Moscow: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that he had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

Speaking at a televised meeting, Mishustin suggested that First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov should serve as acting prime minister in his absence. Putin supported his proposal.

Russia has so far recorded 106,498 cases and 1,073 coronavirus-related deaths.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Kevin Liffey)