United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case, noting his symptom...
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case, noting his symptoms are mild and he will retain all authorities as he quarantines at home for the next five days.
'I tested positive this morning for COVID-19,' Austin tweeted. 'My symptoms are mild, and I am following my physician's directions.'
Austin, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, said he requested a test earlier on Sunday after having symptoms while at home on vacation.
He has informed his leadership team of his positive test result, as well as President Joe Biden, so that his staff could begin contact tracing and testing all those he was in contact with over the last week.
The defense secretary said he last met with Biden on Tuesday, December 21, more than a week before he started experiencing symptoms.
He also encourages 'everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one,' citing the jabs as the reason for his symptoms being mild.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had mild symptoms. He is pictured in November
Austin will quarantine at his home for the next five days, in accordance guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He intends to 'retain all authorities' as defense secretary and work remotely when possible. Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks will represent him if and when necessary.
'To the degree possible, I plan to attend virtually this coming week those key meetings and discussions required to inform my situational awareness and decision making,' he said.
'I will retain all authorities. Hicks will represent me as appropriate in other matters.'
Although he will be working, Austin said his priorities are 'stemming the spread of this virus, safeguarding our workforce, and ensuring [his] own speedy and safe recovery.'
Austin announced his diagnosis on Twitter, while also touting the benefits of the vaccines
The defense secretary also used his diagnosis as an opportunity to tout the benefits of the vaccine, saying his physician claimed his infection would have been more severe had he not gotten his COVID shots.
'As my doctor made clear to me, my fully vaccinated status — and the booster I received in early October — have rendered the infection much more mild than it would otherwise have been,' Austin said. 'And I am grateful for that.'
He added: 'The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue.'
A spate of elected officials have had to quarantine after experiencing breakthrough COVID-19 cases
Austin has informed his leadership team of his positive test result, as well as President Joe Biden who he last saw on Dec. 21, more than a week before he started experiencing symptoms (Pictured: Biden, left, and Austin, right, on Feb. 10, 2021)
Most recently, Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley announced she tested positive for the coronavirus in a breakthrough case.
'After experiencing COVID-like symptoms, this morning I received a positive, breakthrough COVID test result. Thankfully, my symptoms are relatively mild, and I am grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted. I am currently isolating and following all health protocols in order to mitigate further spread and keep my loved ones and community safe,' Pressley said in a statement Friday.
'I encourage everyone to do their part by getting vaccinated, boosted and masking up. I wish everyone a safe and happy new year and look forward to continuing to fight for the robust relief our communities in the Massachusetts 7th need and deserve,' she added.
In addition to Pressley, other lawmakers who have come down with COVID-19 in the past few weeks include Democrats Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Antonio Delgado, Rep. James E. Clyburn, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Sen. Chris Coons, Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele, Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. and Republican New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.
Austin's diagnosis comes as some states are reporting all-time highs for positive COVID cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
Many states are reporting all-time highs for positive COVID cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant
The latest figures from Johns Hopkins published Sunday show 115,984 new cases and 280 deaths in the last 24 hours
Experts think the latest surge of the virus will peak in the US mid-January, and hope numbers will fall as rapidly as they have in South Africa, where Omicron was first identified.
The latest figures from Johns Hopkins University published Sunday show 115,984 new cases and 280 deaths in the last 24 hours, a lull on previous days caused by slower weekend reporting of figures.
Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured Sunday) warned that Americans may soon need to produce a negative COVID test to leave quarantine after the CDC cut the isolation period from 10 days to five for the asymptomatic
The US reached a seven-day average of 402,998 cases on Sunday, as Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that Americans may soon need to produce a negative COVID test to leave quarantine after the CDC cut the isolation period from 10 days to five for the asymptomatic.
The White House COVID tsar argued there 'has been some concern about why we don't ask people at that five-day period to get tested' and said that is 'something that is now under consideration.'
He added: 'The CDC is very well aware that there has been some pushback about that. Looking at it again, there may be an option in that, that testing could be a part of that. And I think we're going to be hearing more about that in the next day or so from the CDC.'
The CDC decision to slash the quarantine period in half for patients without symptoms came last Tuesday in an effort to prevent another devastating blow to the economy amid the spike in workers testing positive.
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