Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies through the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, International Operations, and Associated Applications listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 27, 2022, to evaluation of the fiscal 12 months 2023 funds request for the US Division of State.
Carolyn Kaster | AFP | Getty Photos
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken examined constructive for Covid-19 on Wednesday afternoon after starting to expertise signs, the State Department said.
Blinken, who’s absolutely vaccinated and boosted towards the coronavirus, “is experiencing solely gentle signs,” based on an announcement by the State Division.
The highest diplomat has not seen President Joe Biden in particular person for the previous a number of days, and isn’t thought-about a detailed contact to Biden, the assertion mentioned.
White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned that Biden examined damaging for Covid on Tuesday.
Blinken’s analysis comes eight days after Vice President Kamala Harris examined positive for the coronavirus.
Blinken had met with Sweden’s international minister Ann Linde earlier than his constructive take a look at Wednesday. And he met Tuesday with Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.
“We’re within the course of and we’ve notified these people with whom he has been in shut contact following [federal health agency] steerage,” State Division spokesman Ned Value informed reporters.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Swedens International Minister Ann Linde on the State Division in Washington, DC, on Could 4, 2022.
Michael Mccoy | AFP | Getty Photos
Blinken and his spouse Evan Ryan, together with Biden, attended the White Home Correspondents’ Affiliation Dinner in Washington on Saturday night time with 2,600 individuals, amongst them high-profile journalists, and authorities officers. Attendees at that dinner have been required to be vaccinated or have a damaging Covid take a look at.
Blinken and his spouse have been friends of NBCUniversal, CNBC’s dad or mum firm, on the occasion. An NBC spokesman declined to touch upon Blinke’s analysis.
Ryan is the White Home Cupboard Secretary, performing because the liaison between Biden and the U.S. departments and companies whose leaders make up the president’s Cupboard.
Blinken “will quarantine at dwelling, he’ll comply with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] tips.
“I do know he very a lot appears ahead to returning to the workplace, returning to his full schedule, and returning to the highway simply as quickly as he’s in a position to take action,” mentioned Value, who additionally attended the White Home correspondents’ gala.
Earlier than getting a constructive end result for Covid by a PCR take a look at, Blinken had been scheduled to talk on the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington for a United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees occasion.
Value mentioned that the State Division has notified individuals with whom Blinken had been in shut contact previous to his constructive take a look at.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday mentioned that Protection Division officers who attended the correspondents’ dinner haven’t examined constructive for Covid.
Along with Kirby, U.S. Area Power Basic John Raymond was on the occasion.
– Extra reporting by Amanda Macias
Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the dad or mum firm of CNBC.
