FDA Commissioner Tests Positive for COVID-19

FDA is reporting that Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, has tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, while traveling for the agency.

FDA noted that Califf is up to date on vaccines for COVID-19 and is only experiencing mild symptoms. The agency also noted that Commissioner Califf has not been in close contact with President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris.

Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Califf will isolate at home.

Califf was nominated by President Biden for the top position nearly a year ago. He was eventually confirmed by the Senate in February.

Califf is a former FDA commissioner, having served in the position, during President Obama’s tenure, from 2016 to 2017.

To date, there have been more than 637,906, 306 cases of COVID-19 worldwide, according to worldometers. There have been 6,606,351 deaths with 617,720,734 recovering from the virus, the website states.