WASHINGTON — A White House staff member who traveled to Belgium and Poland last week with President Joe Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to The Associated Press, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House principal deputy press secretary, revealed her COVID-19 diagnosis in a statement Sunday.
“This afternoon, after returning from the president’s trip to Europe, I took a PCR test. That test came back positive,” Jean-Pierre, 44, said in the statement.
“I last saw the president during a socially distanced meeting yesterday, and the president is not considered a close contact as defined by [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance. I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency.”
Jean-Pierre, who said she is fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, added that she has “experienced mild symptoms.”
“In alignment with White House COVID-19 protocols, I will work from home and plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of a five-day isolation period and a negative test,” the statement concluded.
Deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tests positive after going on overseas trip with President Biden in place of Jen Psaki when she tested positive last week. pic.twitter.com/jhgJveHhAk
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) March 28, 2022
Biden, 79, tested negative during pre-arrival screening before he returned to the U.S., the AP reported. He arrived at the White House early Sunday, according to the news agency.
>> PREVIOUS REPORT: White House press secretary Jen Psaki tests positive for COVID-19
News of Jean-Pierre’s positive test came just five days after White House press secretary Jen Psaki tested positive for COVID-19, CNN reported. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff also announced he tested positive on March 15.
I had two socially-distanced meetings with the President yesterday, and he is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance. I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency. The President tested negative today via PCR test.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 22, 2022
Earlier today, the @SecondGentleman tested positive for COVID-19. Doug is doing fine and we are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted. I have tested negative and will continue to test.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 16, 2022
Please get vaccinated and boosted if you haven't already.
>> PREVIOUS REPORT: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID-19
On Sunday, the U.S. was averaging 30,120 new COVID-19 cases per day, down 12% over the past two weeks, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, the nation averaged 793 daily deaths, a decrease of 39% from 14 days earlier, the newspaper reported.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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