Australian prime minister diagnosed with COVID-19

FILE - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks about the situation in Ukraine at a news conference in Sydney, on Feb. 23, 2022. Morrison says he has tested positive for COVID-19 but will continue his official duties while isolating. Morrison said in a statement that he is "experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) (Rick Rycroft, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

CANBERRA ā€“ Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he tested positive for COVID-19 but will continue his official duties while isolating.

ā€œI am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week,ā€ Morrison said in a statement.

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He said he would continue working as prime minister, focusing on the governmentā€™s responses to the Ukraine war and devastating floods on Australiaā€™s east coast. He is isolating in his official Sydney residence after testing positive on Tuesday.

A senior minister who works closely with the prime minister said Wednesday that he was also infected.

ā€œI am not experiencing any significant symptoms, only a mild headache,ā€ Ben Morton, who assists the prime minister and cabinet, said in a statement. Morton said he would continue working while in isolation in Canberra.

Morrison held a news conference with Defense Minister Peter Dutton on Tuesday in which the government promised $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware for Ukraine.

Dutton became the first governing party lawmaker to be infected with COVID-19 during a Washington, D.C., visit in March 2020. He will be required to isolate for a week.

Morrison was among the first Australians to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in February last year and has since received two additional doses.


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