First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, her office has announced.
The announcement comes just days after President Joe Biden’s recovery from the virus was announced.
The First Lady’s office said that the 71-year-old is experiencing “cold-like” symptoms.
“After testing negative for COVID-19 on Monday during her regular testing cadence, the First Lady began to develop cold-like symptoms late in the evening,” the statement read. “She tested negative again on a rapid antigen test, but a PCR test came back positive.”
BREAKING: First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, according to her office.
“She has been prescribed a course of Paxlovid and, following CDC guidance, will isolate from others for at least five days,” her spokesperson says. https://t.co/0VerB0XMVg pic.twitter.com/3pxtq1A1TC
— ABC News (@ABC) August 16, 2022
According to her office, Jill Biden is double vaccinated and twice boosted.
“The First Lady is double-vaccinated, twice boosted, and only experiencing mild symptoms. She has been prescribed a course of Paxlovid and, following CDC guidance, will isolate from others for at least five days,” the statement continued.
Jill Biden will be quarantining at a private residence in South Carolina, where the Bidens have been vacationing, and “will return home after she receives two consecutive negative COVID tests,” her office said.
Shortly after the announcement about the First Lady, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president has tested negative — but will be taking extra precautions due to his wife’s diagnosis.
Consistent with CDC guidance because he is a close contact of the First Lady, he will mask for 10 days when indoors and in close proximity to others. We will also increase the President’s testing cadence and report those results.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) August 16, 2022
“The President tested negative for COVID this morning on an antigen test,” Jean-Pierre tweeted. “Consistent with CDC guidance because he is a close contact of the First Lady, he will mask for 10 days when indoors and in close proximity to others. We will also increase the President’s testing cadence and report those results.”
President Biden first tested positive for COVID on July 21. He tested negative five days later, but tested positive in a “rebound” case days later.
On August 7, President Biden was said to be clear of the virus and able to travel.
