US Defense Secy Austin tests positive for COVID

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced in a statement that he has tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

“My symptoms are mild, and I am following my physician’s directions,” said the Pentagon head, adding that he will quarantine at home for the next five days in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Austin noted that he intends to attend key meetings virtually “to the degree possible” and that Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks has been tapped to represent him when appropriate in other matters. “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,” Austin concluded.