WASHINGTON, DC: First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, according to her office's confirmation on Monday night, September 4.
However, President Joe Biden has tested negative for the virus, the White House announced.
Jill, 72, is reportedly experiencing only mild symptoms and will be staying at the couple's home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The couple spent Sunday night, September 3, together at their Delaware residence before Biden flew to Philadelphia on Monday to commemorate Labor Day with a speech to union workers.
Later, he returned to Washington, DC, to begin his work week.
Over the weekend, Jill had accompanied Biden on a trip to Florida to assess hurricane damage before heading to their Delaware beach home, the New York Times reported.
Jill Biden tests positive, Joe Biden tests negative
In a statement, Jill's spokesperson, Elizabeth Alexander, said, "This evening, the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19. She is currently experiencing only mild symptoms. She will remain at their home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware."
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre staed, "Following the First Lady's positive test for COVID-19, President Biden was administered a COVID test this evening. The President tested negative."
Notably, this is the second time that Jill has contracted Covid. In August 2022, she tested positive for the virus while vacationing with the President and their family on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
At that time, she was prescribed the antiviral medication, Paxlovid, and experienced a rebound case of Covid several days later.
Biden himself tested positive for Covid in July 2022 and also underwent treatment with Paxlovid, followed by a rebound case.
Both the President and First Lady have been fully vaccinated and received booster shots.
Biden is scheduled to depart for the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, September 7, while the First Lady was not expected to attend.
Jean-Pierre stated, "The President will test at a regular cadence this week and monitor for symptoms."
Rigorous testing protocols for anyone meeting the Bidens
Jean-Pierre stated in July that rigorous testing protocols were in place for anyone meeting with the President. These protocols involve Covid testing before meetings to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
“We have testing protocols when – anytime somebody meets with the president,” Jean-Pierre said after members of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s delegation tested positive ahead of a bilateral meeting.
She added, “So, I can tell you that anybody who meets with the president does indeed get tested. I do. We all do.”
Jill's diagnosis comes at a time when the world is renewing its focus on Covid as the fourth virus season since its emergence approaches.
Recent data from the CDC indicated a slight increase in hospital admissions, emergency department visits and positive Covid tests, though not as high as in previous summers.
While overall, hospital admissions have remained relatively low, certain counties, particularly in Florida, have reported higher levels of Covid hospitalizations.
New Covid-19 variant detected
Scientists have also expressed concerns about a new variant, BA.2.86, which has shown significant mutations. However, it has been detected in only a small number of individuals globally.
Dr Eric Topol of the Scripps Research Translational Institute commented on the virus's ability to continually evolve and find new hosts, describing it as relentless.
Despite the recent increase in Covid cases, neither the President nor the First Lady have been seen wearing masks in public. This has sparked a debate regarding the efficacy of masks in preventing the virus' spread.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently acknowledged that data on the effectiveness of masks in the broader context of the pandemic was less robust.
"When you're talking about the effect on the epidemic or the pandemic as a whole, the data are less strong," Fauci stated on CNN.
He added, "But there are other studies, that show at an individual level, for individuals, they might be protective."
As the situation evolves, the health of the President and First Lady remains under close monitoring, and further updates will be provided as necessary.
