The White House announced Tuesday that First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing “mild symptoms.” President Joe Biden continues to test negative after recently recovering from the virus, but will wear a mask indoors for 10 days as a precaution.
The Bidens have been vacationing in South Carolina since August 10, and the 71-year-old First Lady began experiencing symptoms on Monday. Jill Biden, like her husband, has been vaccinated twice and boosted twice with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. She has been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and will be in isolation at the vacation home for at least five days.
“Close contacts of the First Lady have been informed,” her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement, “she is currently living at a private residence in South Carolina and home after receiving two consecutive negative COVID tests.” Will return.”
The White House said the president tested negative for the virus on Tuesday morning, but will be wearing a mask indoors for 10 days. He plans to return to Washington Tuesday to sign the Democrats’ historic climate change and health care bill in the afternoon, before continuing to his home in Wilmington, Delaware. He recovered from a rebound case of the virus on 7 August.
“In line with CDC guidance, because he is in close contact with the First Lady, he will wear a mask when indoors and close to others for 10 days,” the White House said. It said it would increase the president’s testing tally and report those results.
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