U.S. President Joe Biden's Defense Secretary has tested positive for COVID-19. Lloyd Austin is, reportedly, now exhibiting mild symptoms of the disease, a statement released by the Defense Department announced on Sunday.
Austin said he had already informed Biden and his leadership team about his condition. He added that he had already ordered his staff to start contract tracing and to test all the people he had come into contact with over the past few days.
Austin said he last met with Biden personally on Dec. 21 but claimed that he had tested negative for the virus after a test was conducted a day after. Austin said he was present at the Pentagon on Thursday last week, where he met briefly with a few members of his staff. Austin claimed that everyone at the meeting was wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
In accordance with current pandemic protocols and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Austin has agreed to quarantine at home for the next five days.
The CDC recently reduced the required time for people infected with COVID-19 to isolate from 10 days to only five days. The change only applies to patients who experienced mild to no symptoms. After the quarantine, patients are still being advised to wear a mask when going out in public for at least another five days.
Given his mild condition, Austin said he will still be attending all virtual meetings over the coming days, including key discussions where his decision will be required. Austin said he would "retain all authorities" while under home quarantine.
Austin used the situation to further promote vaccinations for the public. In his statement, Austin said that he was told by doctors that his fully vaccinated status and the booster shot he received in October had greatly helped in reducing the severity of the symptoms. He added that without the vaccine, his situation would have been much worse. Austin said that he was grateful and he had chosen to be fully vaccinated.
Austin said vaccines would continue to be a military medical requirement for his workforce. He added that he would continue to encourage everyone around him eligible for a booster to get one immediately.
In August, the Pentagon ordered that all U.S. military personnel be completely vaccinated against Covid-19. However, a few Republican governors had objected to the requirement for National Guard soldiers in their states.
A federal court decided last week that members of the Oklahoma National Guard must be vaccinated against Covid-19, rejecting a plea by the state's Republican governor and others to block the military's vaccination mandate.
