WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for COVID-19 and will shift to a virtual work schedule, the State Department said.

“The Secretary is fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus and is experiencing only mild symptoms,” the department said in a statement.

Spokesman Ned Price said Blinken would no longer deliver a long-awaited speech on China policy scheduled for Thursday.

“He looks forward to returning to the department and resuming his full duties and travels as soon as possible,” the statement said.