By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters). – U.S. Air Force pilots who were supporting Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, in his travels last week across the United Kingdom to Southeast Asia tested positive for coronavirus.

Three people have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 after being on Blinken’s flight last week. These new cases are not previously known. On Wednesday, the State Department disclosed https://www.reuters.com/world/us/blinken-cuts-short-asia-trip-after-covid-19-case-among-travelling-group-2021-12-15 that a member of the press corps accompanying the top U.S. diplomat on the trip had also tested positive.

Air Force could not specify when and where crew members were tested positive. After being examined upon arriving in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night, the journalist was confirmed to be a positive case.

“Both members of the aircrew had been fully vaccinated. “Neither of them had been in close contact with either the Secretary or Senior Staff,” an Air Force spokesperson said to Reuters late Friday via email. The symptoms of one member of an aircrew are mild, but the other is severe.

Spokesperson said that “both are following host nation COVID-19 protocols”, indicating that individuals were dropped off plane at the place where they were identified to be positive.

Blinken’s trip to Southeast Asia was cut short by the State Department earlier in the week. The State Department had revealed that one of his travel journalists had taken a positive COVID test. Blinken was scheduled to visit Indonesia on Monday. However, after the positive COVID testing by the journalist, Blinken canceled the last leg of his trip to Thailand and returned to Washington.

Ned Price, State Department spokesperson said that Blinken and “his senior staff” had tested negative in light of the positive news from the press corps. Price did not mention any other passengers on board the aircraft with Blinken in his statement.

A spokesperson for the State Department said that they had not received any comment from them when asked about Saturday’s crew. According to the agency, “Regarding disclosure,” it said that close contacts are informed of positive cases as per CDC guidelines and standard for contact tracing.

Since January, when President Joe Biden assumed office, this was Blinken’s first trip to Southeast Asia.

Biden’s administration sought to strengthen ties with the region, which had grown unsure about U.S. engagement during Trump’s period of neglect.

China’s influence in Southeast Asia grew, pushing investments and trade integration at a moment when Trump was withdrawing from the U.S.-instigated Pacific trade pact, which sought to undermine Beijing’s economic power.