WASHINGTON, January 2, Reuters -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tested positive for COVID 19 on Sunday with mild symptoms, but would retain all authorities as he was quarantined at home for the next five days.
Austin, who received a booster vaccine, said he last met President Joe Biden on December 21, more than a week before he started experiencing symptoms.
Austin said that my fully vaccinated status and the booster I received in early October have made the infection much more mild than it would otherwise have been, as my doctor made clear to me.
Austin said he requested a test on Sunday after having symptoms while at home on vacation.
The rise in COVID 19 infections has been caused by the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
According to a Reuters tally, the U.S. authorities registered 346,869 new coronaviruses on Saturday. The death toll from COVID 19 rose by at least 377 to 828,562 in the U.S.
I plan to attend the key meetings and discussions this coming week that inform my situational awareness and decision making. Austin said that they will retain all of their authority.
He said that his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, would represent him in some matters.