US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan, arrive for the White House Correspondents’ Association gala in Washington. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan, arrive for the White House Correspondents’ Association gala in Washington. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan, arrive for the White House Correspondents’ Association gala in Washington. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan, arrive for the White House Correspondents’ Association gala in Washington. AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tests positive for Covid-19


Patrick deHahn
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for Covid-19, the State Department said on Wednesday.

The department's statement said that he "tested positive for Covid-19 this afternoon via a PCR test. The secretary is fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus and is experiencing only mild symptoms".

Mr Blinken joins a growing list of high-profile people who have been infected with coronavirus in Washington after a weekend of events around the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

  • Kim Kardashian arrives for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington on Saturday, April 30. AP
    Kim Kardashian arrives for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington on Saturday, April 30. AP
  • Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Reuters
    Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Reuters
  • Actress Drew Barrymore. Reuters
    Actress Drew Barrymore. Reuters
  • CBS News journalist Christina Ruffini. Reuters
    CBS News journalist Christina Ruffini. Reuters
  • Politician and activist Al Sharpton and MSNBC journalist Joy-Ann Reid. AP
    Politician and activist Al Sharpton and MSNBC journalist Joy-Ann Reid. AP
  • Actress Fran Drescher. AP Photo
    Actress Fran Drescher. AP Photo
  • Fox News journalist Jennifer Griffin with writer and entrepreneur Susanna Quinn. AP
    Fox News journalist Jennifer Griffin with writer and entrepreneur Susanna Quinn. AP
  • CBS News journalist Weijia Jiang and her husband Travis Luther Lowe. AP
    CBS News journalist Weijia Jiang and her husband Travis Luther Lowe. AP
  • Journalists Alicia Quarles and Meghan McCain. Reuters
    Journalists Alicia Quarles and Meghan McCain. Reuters
  • CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer and his wife Lynn Greenfield. AP Photo
    CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer and his wife Lynn Greenfield. AP Photo
  • Australian model Miranda Kerr. AP Photo
    Australian model Miranda Kerr. AP Photo
  • Martha Stewart. AP Photo
    Martha Stewart. AP Photo
  • CNN journalist Maria Cardona. Reuters
    CNN journalist Maria Cardona. Reuters
  • Actress Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Francis Henchy. AP Photo
    Actress Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Francis Henchy. AP Photo
  • MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, CBS News journalist Gayle King and actress Drew Barrymore. Reuters
    MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, CBS News journalist Gayle King and actress Drew Barrymore. Reuters
  • NBC News journalist Ali Vitali. Reuters
    NBC News journalist Ali Vitali. Reuters
  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan. Reuters
    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan. Reuters
  • Actress Amy Shiels. Reuters
    Actress Amy Shiels. Reuters
  • CBS News journalists Tony Dokoupil and Katy Tur. Reuters
    CBS News journalists Tony Dokoupil and Katy Tur. Reuters
  • Actress Sophia Bush. Reuters
    Actress Sophia Bush. Reuters
  • CBS News journalist Norah O'Donnell. Reuters
    CBS News journalist Norah O'Donnell. Reuters
  • Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. Reuters
    Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. Reuters
  • CNN journalist Jake Tapper and his wife Jennifer Marie Brown. Reuters
    CNN journalist Jake Tapper and his wife Jennifer Marie Brown. Reuters
  • CBS News journalist Margaret Brennan. Reuters
    CBS News journalist Margaret Brennan. Reuters
  • 'Daily Mail' correspondent Francesca Chambers and her husband Michael Moroney. Reuters
    'Daily Mail' correspondent Francesca Chambers and her husband Michael Moroney. Reuters
  • Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley arrives with his girlfriend. Reuters
    Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley arrives with his girlfriend. Reuters

The White House and the State Department said President Joe Biden is not a close contact.

"He has not seen the president in several days and [Mr Biden] is not considered a close contact," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a briefing.

She said Mr Biden tested negative for the disease on Tuesday.

The president also attended the Saturday evening event along with Ms Psaki, Mr Blinken and members of the press for the first in-person edition of the event since the pandemic began.

Hollywood stars such Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson and Brooke Shields attended. Comedian Trevor Noah hosted.

Those attending were required to be fully vaccinated and boosted, and have a same-day Covid negative test result.

CNN reported on Tuesday evening that several members of US news organisations who went to the dinner or surrounding events at the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus.

The State Department says Mr Blinken will isolate and work remotely for the time being.

Vice President Kamala Harris has recently tested out of her isolation following testing positive for coronavirus last week and is wearing a face mask during outings, per federal health guidance.

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Updated: May 04, 2022, 8:42 PM