The US State Department announced that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had contracted Covid, stressing that he only had “mild symptoms”.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that the minister is “isolating at home” and will work remotely, noting that Blinken has “not seen” President Joe Biden for “a few days.”
For its part, the White House confirmed that President Biden, who tested negative for Covid, “does not count as a contact case.”
According to Price, Blinken “was fully vaccinated, received booster antiviral therapy, and has only mild symptoms.”
The spokesman signaled that the foreign secretary would not deliver a long-awaited speech on Washington’s policy toward Beijing on Thursday.
Price noted that Blinken “looks forward to returning to the ministry and resuming his full duties and travel as soon as possible.”
Blinken was due to attend meetings outside of the US next week.
Blinken was among the guests at a hotel in Washington on Saturday night for the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner.
People who have been in contact with Blinken, including Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde, whom he received on Wednesday morning in Washington, have been informed that he has COVID-19.
