WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden was wearing a face mask when he came in contact with a White House aide who later tested positive for Covid, two people familiar with the matter said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday evening that Biden had tested negative after being in close to the aide for about 30 minutes on Air Force One.
Biden received a rapid antigen test Sunday and a more accurate PCR test Monday after being notified of the staffer's positive test, and tested negative in both instances.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people be tested on the third and fifth day after possible exposure to Covid, which is why Biden was given a PCR test on Monday and will get another one Wednesday, according to the sources.
The White House is anticipating additional cases at the complex in the coming days, and staffers are adjusting to the fact that this will be the new reality for some time, according to the sources.
The White House doesn't require staff to get booster shots but is reminding West Wing aides to do so, including in an email on Monday. Everyone who interacts with Biden gets daily testing, but Psaki didn't say how often the president is tested, saying it's done regularly. Biden, who turned 79 last month, is in an age group at high risk for severe illness from Covid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts have said that getting three Covid shots reduces the risk of severe illness or hospitalization. The president received his booster shot in late September.
When asked whether the White House had changed protocols to deal with exposure risks, Psaki said Monday that there hasn't been a change. We will continue to consult with our health and medical experts if changes need to be put into place. Biden is expected to give remarks Tuesday afternoon about his administration's response to the omicron variant, including making at-home Covid tests free to any U.S. household that requests one and expanding testing sites across the country.