US President Biden tests negative for Covid-19 after staffer tested positive
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US President Joe Biden had spent approximately 30 minutes in proximity to a staff member who tested positive for Covid-19.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - United States President Joe Biden tested negative for Covid-19 after he was notified that a mid-level White House staff member who spent about 30 minutes near him on Air Force One last week tested positive on Monday (Dec 20) morning, the White House said.
A PCR test Mr Biden received on Monday after being notified of the case came back negative, as did an antigen test he received on Sunday as part of his regular testing, White House spokesman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Because the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines do not require fully vaccinated people to quarantine after an exposure, Ms Psaki said.
Mr Biden, 79, "will continue with his daily schedule".
The staff member "had spent approximately 30 minutes in proximity to the President on Air Force One, on the way from Orange, South Carolina to Philadelphia" on Friday, Ms Psaki said.
The staff member is fully vaccinated and boosted, had tested negative before boarding Air Force One and did not begin to experience symptoms until Sunday, she said.
Ms Psaki did not identify the staff member, who she said does not regularly have contact with Mr Biden.
Others on Air Force One who were in close contact with the staff member are being contacted and will be advised to get tested, she said.
