Russian President Vladimir Putin entered self-isolation after people in his inner circle became infected with the coronavirus, the Kremlin said Tuesday, adding that the leader himself tested negative for COVID-19.

Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia鈥檚 Sputnik V, held several public engagements indoors Monday and even said that he may have to quarantine soon. An aide at the time sought to suggest he was speaking generally and insisted Tuesday that no one鈥檚 heath was endangered.

During a daily conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin, 68, is 鈥渁bsolutely healthy鈥� but had come in contact with someone who contracted the virus. Asked if Putin tested negative for the virus, Peskov said 鈥渄efinitely, yes.鈥�

Peskov didn鈥檛 say when Putin began self-isolating, when he tested negative, how long he would remain in self-isolation or who among the president鈥檚 contacts was infected.

During a videoconference with government officials and members of the ruling United Russia party, Putin said that several people in his 鈥渋mmediate circle鈥� were infected with the virus, including a staff member who he was in close contact with throughout Monday.

That staffer was vaccinated and recently got 鈥渞evaccinated,鈥� Putin said, apparently referring to a third shot that Russia is offering people who were immunized more than six months ago.

鈥淭hree days after revaccination he fell ill,鈥� Putin said. 鈥淲e will see how Sputnik V really works.鈥�

Even the most highly effective coronavirus vaccines in use don鈥檛 prevent all infections, but they reduce the risk of getting seriously sick or dying from COVID-19.

Russian authorities have been regularly criticized for underplaying the pandemic and for even in the face of infection surges. Russia鈥檚 death toll is currently running at its highest level of the pandemic, with just under 800 fatalities a day. Nevertheless, hardly any virus restrictions are currently in place.

Putin has hardly ever worn a mask publicly, though he appeared to work largely remotely and was rarely seen in public for a period before he was vaccinated.

On Monday, Putin attended several public events, most of which were indoors and where it appeared from images on TV that no one wore masks. He shook hands with Russian Paralympians and pinned medals on them, attended military exercises alongside other officials, and met with Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose hand he also shook. Assad tested positive for the coronavirus in March and later recovered; it鈥檚 not clear if he is vaccinated.

During the meeting with the Paralympians, Putin signaled that he was aware of cases close to him.

鈥淓ven in my circle problems occur with this COVID,鈥� the Russian leader was quoted by the state RIA Novosti news agency as saying. 鈥淲e need to look into what鈥檚 really happening there. I think I may have to quarantine soon myself. A lot of people around (me) are sick.鈥�

Peskov later said Putin was speaking 鈥渇iguratively.鈥�

Asked Tuesday about why Putin proceeded with public events, Peskov said that the decision to self-isolate was made after 鈥渄octors completed their testing, their procedures.鈥� Peskov said without explaining that 鈥渘o one鈥檚 health was endangered鈥� at Monday鈥檚 events.

Russia鈥檚 daily coronavirus infections have fallen in the past month from over 20,000 to about 17,000 鈥� but experts .

Despite high caseloads, Russia has struggled to vaccinate its citizens, and its rates lag behind many other countries. As of Friday, only 32% of the population had received at least one shot of a coronavirus vaccine, and only 27% had been fully vaccinated.

Putin has occasionally gone to extreme lengths to protect himself from infection, despite the lack of restrictions in general. Peskov has confirmed media reports that people who meet in-person with Putin or attend events with him have to undergo 鈥渞igorous testing鈥� or quarantine ahead of time.

Officials even set up special 鈥渄isinfection tunnels鈥� last year at his residence and the Kremlin that anyone meeting Putin had to walk through. The visitors were sprayed with a disinfectant mist, although it is not clear how effective that is. Putin also once visited a hospital in a full hazmat suit.

鈥擠aria Litvinova, The Associated Press