Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tests positive
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has tested positive for COVID-19, he confirmed in a statement Sunday evening.
"I tested positive this morning for COVID-19. I requested the test today after exhibiting symptoms while at home on leave," he said.
He added that his symptoms are mild and he is following his physician's directions.
"In keeping with those directions, and in accordance with CDC guidelines, I will quarantine myself at home for the next five days," Austin said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently-updated isolation guidelines.
Austin said he will be attending virtual meetings if possible while in quarantine.
"I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President. My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week," he said in his statement, adding that his last meeting with President Joe Biden was on Dec. 21, "more than a week before I began to experience symptoms."
"I tested negative that very morning. I have not been in the Pentagon since Thursday, where I met briefly - and only - with a few members of my staff. We were properly masked and socially distanced throughout," he said.
Austin said he is fully vaccinated and boosted, and his doctor made clear to him that thanks to that, his infection is much more mild than it would otherwise have been -- which he is grateful for.
