Fauci, 81, has mild symptoms and has been doubled, the institute said in a statement.
NIAID said Fauci found it positive in a rapid antigen test. The director will work from home and follow the agency’s protocol, returning to the National Institutes of Health campus only after a negative test.
Fauci has not had close contact with Biden or other senior officials recently, the institute said.
During the pandemic, he called for caution and demonstrated it himself at public events. For example, he chose not to attend the White House’s annual dinner at reporters in April after assessing his individual risk.
“Each of us, in our own way, has to decide what risk you’re willing to take to get infected,” he told CNN. “Overall, the risk is low, but I made a personal assessment. I am 81 years old and if I get infected, I have a much higher risk.”
Fauci worked non-stop during the pandemic. In May, he said he had not had a day off since Covid-19 came to the United States.
He has been the director of NIAID since 1984 and has advised seven presidents.
Fauci joins the growing list of Biden administration leaders who had Covid-19, including White House Home Affairs Adviser Susan Rice, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vice President Kamala Harris and Trade Secretary Gina Raimondo.
This is breaking news and will be updated.
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