WASHINGTON —First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID on vacation in South Carolina, according to a statement from the White House. This comes just days after President Biden recovered from the virus.
After a negative COVID test Monday during her regular testing cadence, the First lady began to develop cold-like symptoms late in the evening, according to a statement from her office.
She tested negative again on a rapid antigen test but a PCR test came back positive.
The First lady is double vaccinated, twice boosted and experiencing mild symptoms, according to the statement. She has been prescribed a course of Paxlovid and following CDC guidance will isolate from others for at least five days.
First contacts of the First lady have been notified. She is currently staying at a private residence in South Carolina. She will return home after she receives two consecutive negative tests, according to the statement.
President Biden, 79, came down with the virus a second time three days after he had emerged from isolation from his initial bout with COVID-19, reported on July 21. He had a second consecutive negative test on August 7, according to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
The president tested negative for the virus on Tuesday morning, the White House said, but would be wearing a mask indoors for 10 days. He plans to return to Washington on Tuesday to sign Democrats' landmark climate change and health care bill in the afternoon, before continuing to his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
"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," the White House said. It said it would increase the president’s testing cadence and report those results.