ST. PAUL — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he’s quarantining outside the country after testing positive for COVID-19.

Keith Ellison speaks to a crowd in 2018 at the Albert Lea Senior Center. – Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

In a statement Wednesday night, Ellison said he was experiencing only mild symptoms thanks to having been vaccinated and boosted. He said he was isolating in place, and will travel home when it is safe, while conducting business remotely as usual.

“I am out of the country visiting family and until yesterday, had no reason to believe I was positive until I took a mandatory COVID test that was required for me to board the plane home,” he said. “I was surprised to find that it was positive, because up to that point, I had experienced no symptoms. Since then, I have developed mild symptoms but nothing worse than a mild cold.”

Ellison said his case offers more proof that vaccines and booster shots make COVID-19 symptoms mild and manageable for most people. He urged Minnesotans who have not gotten vaccinated or boosted to do so now for the sake of themselves, their families and loved ones, their community, and the health care system.