The US State Department on December 16 announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is quarantining after coming into contact with someone who tested COVID positive. According to CNN, a State Department Spokesperson informed that Pompeo himself has been tested and is negative. However, the spokesperson added that he is being closely monitored by the Department’s medical team.
It is still unclear when or where Pompeo came into contact with the individual who tested positive. A White House official informed that he did not attend President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting at the White House which took place on Wednesday. Further, the State Department also cancelled a holiday reception for the foreign missions in Washington that was due to take place at the State Department later on Wednesday.
The top US official was also slated to meet with President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to succeed him, Anthony Blinken, on Thursday. However, now he will no longer meet in person with Blinken, but it is unclear if the meeting will take place virtually. Moreover, Washington Post reported that Pompeo cancelled a speech he was due to give at another indoor holiday party that took place late on Tuesday and whose invites had been sent out to 900 people.