A journalist traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tested positive for COVID-19, the Secretary’s spokesperson Ned Price announced on Wednesday, cutting short his multinational trip to Asia.

“The individual who tested positive will remain in isolation . . . and we will continue to adhere to and go beyond CDC guidance, including with our rigorous testing protocol, for the remaining traveling party,” said Price, according to ABC.

The U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, where Blinken was Tuesday, confirmed to ABC that no one else in Blinken’s traveling party tested positive. The individual did not participate in any of Blinken’s program in Kuala Lumpur.

When speaking with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Blinken expressed regret that he would not be able to continue his trip and visit Thailand.

Instead, the Secretary extended an invitation to the prime minister to come to Washington, D.C., at the earliest opportunity. Blinken also indicated he would travel to Thailand at the next available opportunity.

“In order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the Secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution,” Price added in a press release.

The multinational visit was launched as an opportunity for the U.S. to mend some troubled relationships in Southeast Asia and to address issues involving China. He visited Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday before going to Kuala Lumpur.

Blinken has over three decades of experience in politics, which began in the State Department in the early 1990s. He has served in key roles during three presidential administrations.

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