William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, a day after meeting ...
William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, a day after meeting with President Biden.
The meeting was not considered close contact for Mr. Biden because the two were practicing social distancing and Mr. Burns was wearing an N95 mask, according to a CIA statement. Mr. Biden has tested negative on Wednesday, during a screening as part of regular medical follow-up, an administration official said.
Mr Burns, who is 65, fully vaccinated and boosted, has mild symptoms, the CIA statement said, adding that he is now self-isolating and will work from home. He will return to agency headquarters in Virginia after self-isolating for five days and then testing negative for the virus.
Testing positive will prevent Mr. Burns from briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill or attending White House briefings while he remains in isolation. Although Mr. Burns attends intelligence briefings at the White House several times a month, April D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, is primarily responsible for Mr. Biden’s regular intelligence briefings.
Mr. Burns will continue to carry out his duties from home rather than handing over the responsibility to David S. Cohen, the deputy director. In the statement, Mr Burns said he remained fully engaged despite the mild symptoms.
As Director of the CIA, Mr. Burns’ work focuses almost exclusively on classified documents. Common practice would be for senior national security officials to use secure devices when working and communicating from home or anywhere else outside of their offices.
COMMENTS