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Oct 19, 2021 - Politics & Policy

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tests positive for COVID-19

Erin Doherty
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during the US-Mexico High Level Security Dialogue at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations in Mexico City, on October 8, 2021.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Photo: Patrick Semansky/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning.

Driving the news: Mayorkas, who is vaccinated, tested positive during "routine pre-travel protocols," DHS spokesperson Marsha Espinosa announced in a tweet.

  • "He is experiencing only mild congestion; he is fully vaccinated and will isolate and work at home per CDC protocols and medical advice," Espinosa wrote.
  • DHS did not immediately return a request for comment.

The big picture: The news comes as Mayorkas was set to travel to Colombia with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, per CNN.

Of note: Mayorkas did not have close contact with any top White House officials since attending the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service last week, the White House said in a statement.

  • That event was outside the 2-day window for spreading the virus through close contact, they said.

Editor's note: This post was updated to include a comment from a White House statement.

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