U.S. State Department spokesperson tests positive for COVID-19

Special: Battle Against Novel Coronavirus

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

"After experiencing symptoms for the first time this morning, I tested positive for COVID-19 shortly thereafter, &will now quarantine for the next 10 days," Price tweeted.

"I'm feeling under the weather but am grateful for the protection from severe illness offered by safe and effective vaccines," he added.

Price participated in multiple meetings last week with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other State Department officials in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly annual session.

State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters in a briefing that Blinken tested negative Monday morning, and no other members of the traveling party were exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

She also suggested that foreign delegations would not be alerted given Price had not been in contact with any of them since Thursday and the risk of exposure likely started on Saturday.