Biden spent time with 'mid-level staff member' who tested positive for COVID, White House says


President Biden spent about a half hour on Friday "in proximity to" a staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the White House said Monday evening. The unidentified "mid-level staff member who does not regularly have contact with the president" was "fully vaccinated and boosted," tested negative before coming in contact with Biden aboard Air Force One on Friday, and didn't have any symptoms until Sunday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
Biden tested negative through a routine antigen test Sunday and a rapid PCR test on Monday, and he'll get another test on Wednesday, Psaki said. "Others on Air Force One who were in close contact with this staff member are being contacted and will be advised to get tested per CDC guidance."
Biden will not change his schedule, per CDC guidelines for vaccinated people, Psaki said, and the White House is disclosing this information because it has committed to informing the public about any COVID-19 cases among people who were in close contact with Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, or her husband shortly before a positive test. Biden will still address the nation about the surge in cases of the Omicron variant, she added, but "this is not a speech about locking the country down."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The genetic secrets of South Korea's female free-divers
Under The Radar Unique physiology of 'real-life mermaid' haenyeo women could help treat chronic diseases
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
-
Measles outbreak spreads, as does RFK Jr.'s influence
Speed Read The outbreak centered in Texas has grown to at least three states and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting unproven treatments
-
RFK Jr. offers alternative remedies as measles spreads
Speed Read Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes unsupported claims about containing the spread as vaccine skepticism grows
-
Texas outbreak brings 1st US measles death since 2015
Speed read The outbreak is concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community in rural Gaines County
-
Mystery illness spreading in Congo rapidly kills dozens
Speed Read The World Health Organization said 53 people have died in an outbreak that originated in a village where three children ate a bat carcass
-
Ozempic can curb alcohol cravings, study finds
Speed read Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may also be helpful in limiting alcohol consumption
-
New form of H5N1 bird flu found in US dairy cows
Speed Read This new form of bird flu is different from the version that spread through herds in the last year