Argentina’s president tests positive for coronavirus

Argentinian President Alberto Fernández has tested positive for COVID-19, about two months after he received a dose of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, CNN reports.

Fernández wrote on Twitter Friday that he had received a positive antigen test after observing a temperature of about 99 degrees. Another PCR test confirmed this diagnosis.

“I’m already isolated, complying with the current protocol and following the instructions of my personal doctor,” Fernandez said in a tweet translated from Spanish. “I have contacted the people I met in the last 48 hours to assess whether they constitute close contact.”

Si bien estamos a la espera de la confirmación a través del test PCR, ya me encuentro aislado, cumpliendo el protocolo vigente y siguiendo las indicaciones de mi médico personal.

— Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) April 3, 2021

CNN notes it is still possible to be infected by the coronavirus after receiving a shot of a vaccine, which have been shown to reduce the likelihood of infection and especially severe infection. An analysis published by the British medical journal The Lancet in February found that the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is approximately 91.6 percent effective.

Gamaleya Institute, the Moscow-based institute that developed the Sputnik V vaccine, wished Fernandez well on Twitter.

“We are sad to hear this. #SputnikV is 91.6% effective against infection and 100% effective against severe cases. If the infection is indeed confirmed and occurs, the vaccination ensures quick recovery without severe symptoms. We wish you a quick recovery!” the institute wrote on Twitter.

The Gamaleya Institute: We are sad to hear this. #SputnikV is 91.6% effective against infection and 100% effective against severe cases. If the infection is indeed confirmed and occurs, the vaccination ensures quick recovery without severe symptoms. We wish you a quick recovery!

— Sputnik V (@sputnikvaccine) April 3, 2021

The start of the Argentinian vaccine rollout was marked by scandal, CNN notes, after it was revealed that around 70 people were given early access to the COVID-19 vaccine, including Fernández.

According to the World Health Organization, Argentina has confirmed more than 2.3 million coronavirus cases and over 56,000 related deaths.