Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tests positive for COVID-19
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has tested positive for COVID-19, a spokeswoman for the department announced Tuesday.
Mayorkas, who is fully vaccinated, is said to be experiencing mild symptoms.
“Secretary Mayorkas tested positive this morning for the COVID-19 virus after taking a test as part of routine pre-travel protocols,” Marsha Espinosa, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement. “Secretary Mayorkas is experiencing only mild congestion.”
Espinosa said that contact tracing is underway.
Mayorkas, 61, had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and was planning to travel to Colombia with Secretary of State Antony Blinken later this week.
He now plans to isolate and work from home in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols, Espinosa added.
Mayorkas is the highest-ranking Biden administration official to reveal he tested positive for the coronavirus, though not the first. State Department spokesperson Ned Price, who is also fully vaccinated, tested positive last month.
In July the White House changed its policy on disclosing COVID cases, saying it would publicly disclose officials who test positive only if they have had close contact with the president, vice president, first lady or second gentleman.
Mayorkas attended a ceremony on Saturday with President Biden to mark the 40th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.
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