WASHINGTON (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden has tested negative after being in close contact with a White House staff member who tested positive for Covid, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Monday night.
The staff member “spent approximately 30 minutes in proximity” to the President aboard Air Force One last week when traveling from South Carolina to Pennsylvania.
“The President is tested on a regular basis. As part of that regular testing, the President received an antigen test Sunday, and tested negative,” Psaki said. “This morning, after being notified of the staffer’s positive test, the President received a PCR test and tested negative. He will be tested again on Wednesday.”
Psaki said the staffer is fully vaccinated and boosted and tested negative prior to boarding Air Force One with Biden.
“This staff member is fully vaccinated and boosted, and tested negative prior to boarding Air Force One, as is required for everyone traveling with the President,” she said. “This staff member did not begin to experience symptoms until Sunday, and was tested on Monday.”
Biden turned 79 last month and is in an age group that’s more likely to get severely ill from Covid and individuals over the age of 65 have accounted for 81 percent of Covid deaths.
Psaki said Biden does not need to quarantine since he is fully vaccinated and will continue to fulfill his duties on his schedule.
Former President Donald Trump tested positive for Covid in October 2020 and spent two days in Walter Reed Hospital.
“As CDC guidance does not require fully vaccinated people to quarantine after an exposure, the President will continue with his daily schedule,” she said.
The news comes after Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.
