Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, has been tested positive for coronavirus. Ned Price, spokesperson at the State Department, said Wednesday that Blinken would be isolated at home. CDC guidelines. Blinken met Wednesday morning with Ann Linde, Swedish Foreign Minister, shortly before his positive result. He had met Marcelo Ebrard (Mexican Foreign Secretary) a day earlier. On Saturday, he joined a crowd of 2,600 celebrities, journalists and Washington elites who packed the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where few in attendance wore masks. “You guys spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large indoor gatherings. Then, the second someone offers you a free dinner, you all turn into Joe Rogan,” said comedian Trevor Noah in his address at the event, which has since been linked to a growing number of COVID-19 cases. The World Health Organization estimates that the -19 cases are still under investigation. COVIDNearly 15,000,000 people have died from the -19 pandemic.
TRANSCRIPT
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AMY GOODMAN:Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, has been tested positive for coronavirus. Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department, stated Wednesday that Blinken will be isolated at home in accordance to CDC guidelines.
NED PRICE:The good news is that he has been fully vaccinated. He is only experiencing mild symptoms.
AMY GOODMAN:Shortly before his positive test result, Blinken met Wednesday morning with Ann Linde, the Swedish Foreign Minister. He also met with Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, one day earlier. On Saturday , Secretary Blinken joined a crowd of 2,600 celebrities, journalists and Washington elites who packed the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., where few in attendance wore masks. Since then, the event has been linked to a growing variety of issues. COVIDCases, including journalists with Voice of America NBC News, CBSNews and Politics Also, positive testing was ABCJonathan Karl, a news correspondent, was seated next the reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Karl also had a brief conversation with President Biden. He was not wearing a mask. Trevor Noah, comedian, addressed the crowd. He opened by making these remarks.
TREVOR NOAH: It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event. We are not doing this for the real people. Let’s be honest. What are you doing? What did you learn from the Gridiron Dinner? Nothing, huh? I mean, do you ever read your own newspapers? I mean, Sean Hannity should expect it, but what about you? What are your intentions? You guys have spent the past two years telling everyone about the importance of wearing masks, and how to avoid large indoor gatherings. You all become Joe Rogan when you are offered a free meal by someone.
AMY GOODMAN:The World Health Organization estimates that COVIDNearly 15,000,000 people have died from the -19 pandemic.
