US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in quarantine on Wednesday after he came in contact with a coronavirus-infected person, AFP reported quoting the US State Department.

Pompeo, however, has tested negative for novel coronavirus, the department said.  

Also read: Boston ‘superspreader’ event caused 300,000 COVID-19 cases: Study

“In accordance with CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines, he will be in quarantine,” a State Department spokesperson said.

“He is being closely monitored by the Department’s medical team,” the spokesperson added.

The department didn’t identify the person with whom Pompeo had come in contact, due to privacy reasons. 

The US Secretary of State is fourth in the line of succession after the president following the vice president, speaker of the House of Representatives and president pro tempore of the Senate.

President Donald Trump was hospitalised with COVID-19 in October. He and First Lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for COVID-19.

While Trump frequently appeared in public without a facemask, Pompeo generally wore one during his foreign trips.

Pompeo and his wife, Susan, hosted a holiday party on Tuesday for the families of US diplomats serving overseas, AFP reported.

According to The Washington Post, Pompeo had been scheduled to speak at the event but canceled his speech.

Also read: Global COVID-19 deaths reach 1.6 million, US to start mass vaccine campaign from Monday

The newspaper said more than 900 invitations were issued for the reception but less than 70 people showed up for the indoor event.

US health authorities have discouraged large indoor gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic which has left more than 300,000 people dead in the United States.