Putin is self-isolating after people in his circle caught COVID-19

• Some COVID-19 cases have been found in Putin's "entourage," the Kremlin said Tuesday.
• The Kremlin said he will now "enter the regime of self-isolation," but that he has tested negative.
• Putin took the Sputnik V vaccine, and has gone to extreme lengths to shield himself from COVID-19.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is self-isolating after people in his circle caught COVID-19, the Kremlin announced Tuesday.

"Vladimir Putin said that in connection with the coronavirus cases detected in his entourage, he must enter the regime of self-isolation for a certain period of time," the Kremlin said in a statement, published by Sputnik News. It made the statement while described a call between Putin and Emomali Rahmon, the president of Tajikistan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said Putin had tested negative on his PCR test. "The president is in excellent health," Peskov said.

On Monday, the day before the announcement, Putin had greeted a delegation of Russian Paralympians, attended military exercises with Belarus, and met with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Associated Press reported.

Putin mentioned during the meeting with the Paralympians that he "may have to quarantine soon," per the AP.

When asked why the Russian president held the meetings despite knowing about the potential exposure to COVID-19, Peskov said they had to wait until doctors finished their tests, and that "no one's health was endangered" on Monday, the AP reported.

Putin has been vaccinated against COVID-19 with Russia's homegrown vaccine, Sputnik V.

He has taken special precautions against COVID-19 throughout the pandemic: Last year he installed at his official residence a special disinfection tunnel that sprayed antibacterial solution on his visitors.

He also required World War II veterans - most of whom were in their 90s - to quarantine for 14 days before being able to sit by him at a military parade last June.