US State Department says Antony Blinker has mild symptoms
US State Department says Antony Blinker has mild symptoms
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and related events over the weekend, the State Department said.
Spokesman Ned Price said Mr Blinken tested positive in an OPCR test on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Price said Mr Blinken has been fully vaccinated and is experiencing only mild symptoms.
Mr Blinken tested negative on Tuesday and again earlier on Wednesday morning. Mr Blinken has not met personally with President Joe Biden for “several days” and is not considered a close liaison to the president.
He had earlier met the Swedish Foreign Minister at the State Department on Wednesday. Mr Blinken was scheduled to deliver a speech about the Biden administration’s China policy on Thursday, but Mr Price said the speech had been postponed.
Mr Price said Mr Blinken would isolate at home and work virtually until the quarantine period is over.
He is the latest Biden administration figure to test positive. Vice President Kamala Harris was approved to return to the White House on Tuesday after testing positive last week.