Putin holds meeting by video-conference after contact with coronavirus doctor

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a government meeting by video conference on Wednesday. It came a day after a doctor who met him last week said he had been diagnosed with the highly infectious virus. The Kremlin, which has said that everything is fine with Putin's health, said the president was now keeping his distance from other people and preferred to work remotely.

Russia's finance ministry has earmarked about $18 billion to be used to fight the spread of the coronavirus and the economic fallout, Prime Minister told President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Russia's official tally of coronavirus cases rose to 2,777 on Wednesday with 24 dead. Dozens of Russian regions, including the city of Moscow, have already imposed a partial lockdown to control the spread of the disease.