Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce tests positive for COVID-19 in US

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the United States.

Mr Joyce told ABC Radio New England he had been experiencing mild symptoms and chose to get tested.

“Look, obviously [I am] very frustrated I’m going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but that’s part of the process,” he said.

“It’s probably developing, I’m probably very much in the early stages — but I’m more worried about being in a room by myself to be honest.”

Mr Joyce is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

He said he had felt tired and pain in his legs, but that the illness was so mild he was uncertain whether he was even sick.

“I don’t feel that bad, that’s the crazy thing,” Mr Joyce told Sky.

“If I can just work out which channel has the cricket on it, I’ll be so much better.”
The Deputy Prime Minister was in Washington DC for work relating to the government’s plan for new social media regulations, and was previously in the United Kingdom before arriving in the US.

Mr Joyce said he was disappointed he would be unable to consult with his US counterparts on the matter.

“Part of your job is you have got to travel … I really wanted to follow up on some of this online stuff, try to get better online protection laws and see where the United States are,” he said.

“But that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
Mr Joyce said that, despite his infection, he would continue to advocate for a return to normalcy where COVID-19 could be treated like the flu through regular vaccinations.

Asked whether he knew which variant of COVID-19 he was infected with, Mr Joyce joked he would “have to talk to it tonight and find out which one it is”.

“It’s just me and Omicron in this room, I’ll have a yarn to it tonight.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had spoken to Mr Joyce this morning and wished him well.

“He tells me he’s feeling all right, apart from the mild illness, and he has been vaccinated — what we do know already is that the vaccinations do have an impact on the seriousness of the disease,” Mr Morrison said.

“And that’s why it’s so important to get vaccinated.

“We look forward to his recovery.”

Australia’s ambassador in Washington, Arthur Sinodinos, met with Mr Joyce at his hotel last night and is now self-isolating.

He said Mr Joyce had not appeared unwell.

Mr Joyce said other members of the delegation had all tested negative for COVID-19. ABC