US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for COVID-19 and will shift to a virtual work schedule, the State Department said.

“The Secretary is fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus and is experiencing only mild symptoms.

Blinken has not seen President Joe Biden in person for several days and Biden is not considered a close contact”, - reads the statement.

Spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken would no longer deliver a long-awaited speech on China policy scheduled for Thursday.

“He looks forward to returning to the Department and resuming his full duties and travels as soon as possible”, – he added.