First Lady Jill Biden underwent a positive COVID-19 test, as announced by the White House on Monday. This comes amid a surge in infections across the country and just a few days before President Joe Biden’s departure for the G20 Summit in India.
More about Jill Biden
According to her spokesperson, Elizabeth Alexander, the First Lady has experienced only mild symptoms. Jill Biden will be isolating at their residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Over the weekend, the First Lady had accompanied her husband during his efforts to assess the aftermath of a hurricane in Florida. She also spent time at their vacation home in Rehoboth Beach.
President Biden, who returned from Delaware by himself on Monday evening, has tested negative for the virus. According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, he will undergo regular testing and symptom monitoring throughout this week.
Emphasizing health and safety remains vital in such situations, and the First Lady’s positive test underscores the ongoing importance of efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
What to Watch For:
President Biden is set to participate in the G20 Summit in India at the end of this week. Amid strained relations between Washington and Beijing, Biden was hoping to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although Xi is reportedly not attending the summit. There are also hopes for a trip to Hanoi to boost relations with Vietnam after the President’s visit. Any symptoms or positive tests would clearly impact his presence and potentially alter his individual meetings with world leaders or other representatives.
Main Background:
Due to their age, both the President and the First Lady are considered at high risk for COVID-19. However, they have both been vaccinated, reducing the likelihood of severe illness, and both contracted the virus almost a year ago, recovered after receiving antiviral treatments, and experienced “rebound” cases. The First Lady’s infection serves as a high-profile reminder for people to stay vigilant and get vaccinated as health officials encourage a rollout of new booster shots. While the impact of COVID is not as severe in public and political life now, recent weeks have seen an uptick in cases and hospitalizations across the United States, and experts are concerned about the emergence of new variants. Official numbers show that infection and hospitalization rates are still relatively low compared to the peak of the pandemic, but monitoring the virus is challenging due to changes in surveillance and reduced testing of asymptomatic individuals.