CIA director tests positive for Covid-19

CIA Director William Burns has tested positive for Covid-19, the agency announced on Thursday.

Burns, who is “fully vaccinated and boosted” against the virus, has experienced “mild symptoms,” the CIA said in a news release. He will “continue to perform his duties” from home and “plans to return to the office after isolating for five days and testing negative.”

Burns most recently saw President Joe Biden in a socially distanced meeting on Wednesday morning, during which Burns was wearing an N-95 mask, according to the CIA.

“Their interaction is not considered close contact as defined by CDC guidance, and Director Burns is sharing the news of his positive test out of an abundance of transparency,” the CIA said.

“I look forward to returning to the office as soon as possible,” Burns said in a statement.

Burns, 65, is a veteran diplomat with a more than three-decade career in U.S. foreign policy. He has served in various senior capacities at the State Department under several administrations, most recently as former President Barack Obama’s deputy secretary of State.

Burns is the latest high-ranking administration official to test positive for Covid-19 in recent days. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tested positive last week, and her principal deputy Karine Jean-Pierre tested positive on Sunday.