In the wake of close contact with a White House staffer who contracted COVID-19, President Joe Biden tested negative on Monday.
In a statement on Monday evening, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, announced the case, according to thehill.
During a flight from South Carolina to Philadelphia on Friday, the unidentified midlevel staff member spent 30 minutes with Biden on Air Force One.
The employee had received a booster vaccine and is fully vaccinated.
Before the trip, the employee tested negative for the virus.
Nonetheless, the staff began experiencing symptoms on Sunday, according to Psaki and tested positive for the virus on Monday.
In response to the news, Psaki said Biden was tested with a PCR test on Monday and came back negative.
During his regular testing on Sunday, Biden received another antigen test which was also negative, she said.
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“As CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance does not require fully vaccinated people to quarantine after an exposure, the President will continue with his daily schedule,” Psaki asserted.
Biden, who is 79 years old, has received his COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, as well as his booster in just a few days.
White House officials recently switched traditional holiday parties for holiday tours, a move aimed at preventing the spread of the contagious omicron variant.
Psaki told journalists at an earlier press briefing that the White House anticipates breakthrough cases in the federal government, but has made clear that 99 percent of federal workers are vaccinated, in line with President Biden’s mandated vaccinations.
According to her, booster doses on White House grounds are recommended, although not mandatory at the present time.
White House staff members who come into close contact with Biden are regularly tested.
As a result, high-level officials have not been subjected to many cases.
However, some members of Biden’s inner circle have tested positive for COVID-19, including Psaki, who was unable to travel abroad after members of her family were infected.