FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stands with Lithuania's Minister of Defense Arvydas Anusauskas during an grant cordon upon his accomplishment astatine the Pentagon successful Washington, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. In a connection Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, Austin said helium has tested affirmative for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms portion quarantining astatine home. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) (Andrew Harnik, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday helium has tested affirmative for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms portion quarantining astatine home.

In a connection Sunday night, Austin said helium plans to be cardinal meetings and discussions virtually successful the coming week “to the grade possible.” He said Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks would correspond him successful due matters.

“I person informed my enactment squad of my affirmative trial result, arsenic good arsenic the President,” Austin said. “My unit has begun interaction tracing and investigating of each those with whom I person travel into interaction implicit the past week.”

Austin, 68, said helium was afloat vaccinated and received a booster successful October. He said helium requested a trial Sunday greeting aft experiencing symptoms portion astatine location connected permission and, fixed the result, planned to stay successful quarantine for 5 days, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The vaccines enactment and volition stay a subject aesculapian request for our workforce. I proceed to promote everyone eligible for a booster changeable to get one. This remains a readiness issue,” helium said.

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In October, different subordinate of President Joe Biden's Cabinet, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, tested affirmative for COVID-19.

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