First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, with the White House confirming that she is currently experiencing “mild symptoms.” Fortunately, President Joe Biden has tested negative, CNN reports.
This diagnosis has disrupted the First Lady’s plans to commence her fall semester teaching at Northern Virginia Community College on Tuesday. To ensure the continuity of her classes, Vanessa Valdivia, the spokesperson for the First Lady, is working closely with the school to arrange for a substitute instructor.
Dr. Jill Biden, aged 72, is currently at the Biden family’s residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where she typically conducts her classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her health will be monitored by the White House medical team, and she will adhere to their guidance regarding her return to the White House, according to Valdivia.
Unfortunately, due to her diagnosis, she will no longer be able to participate in the evening event in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, which was intended to be a send-off dinner for the US team competing in the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, next week.
At this time, there are no changes to White House COVID-19 protocols or the President’s schedule, as confirmed on Monday.
This development comes during a busy week for President Joe Biden, who earlier delivered a Labor Day speech in Philadelphia. The President is also scheduled to present the Medal of Honor to an Army captain in a White House ceremony on Tuesday before departing for the G20 Summit in India on Thursday.
Admin has reached out for more information regarding the regular COVID-19 testing cadence for both the President and the First Lady and whether Joe Biden was in close proximity to his wife when she began displaying symptoms.
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Last summer, both the President and the First Lady had previously tested positive for COVID-19, with both experiencing rebound cases shortly after being treated with Paxlovid.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had previously confirmed in July that anyone meeting with the President undergoes COVID-19 testing prior to their meeting, following an incident involving members of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s delegation testing positive ahead of a bilateral meeting.
Jill Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis occurs at a time when the world is once again focusing on the virus as it approaches its fourth season since its emergence. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from earlier in the summer showed a slight increase in hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and positive COVID-19 tests, though not as high as in previous summers.
Overall, the number of new hospital admissions per 100,000 people nationwide in the week ending August 19 was considered low according to CDC thresholds, with only seven counties reporting high levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Approximately 3.6% of the country, or 117 counties, fell into the medium threshold, with a quarter of them located in Florida.
A new variant, BA.2.86, has garnered attention among scientists due to its high mutation rate. However, it has only been detected in a small number of individuals globally. Nonetheless, experts express concern about the virus’s continuous evolution and its ability to find new ways to challenge humans and seek new hosts, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.
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