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White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed Sunday night that she had tested positive for COVID-19 after accompanying President Biden on a four-day trip to Belgium and Poland.
“This afternoon, after returning from the President’s trip to Europe, I took a PCR test. That test came back positive,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The deputy press secretary added that she last saw Biden “during a socially distanced meeting” on Saturday and claimed that the president is not considered a close contact according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency,” said the fully vaccinated Jean-Pierre, who added that she was experiencing 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,” she said.
Positive COVID tests by the top two White House press officials bookended Biden’s visit to Europe.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that she had tested positive for coronavirus and would have to bow out of traveling with the presidential entourage.
“Today, in preparation for travel to Europe, I took a PCR test this morning. That test came back positive, which means I will be adhering to CDC guidance and no longer be traveling on the president’s trip to Europe,” Psaki said in a statement.
She noted in her statement that Biden tested negative.
Psaki, who is fully vaccinated, also tested positive for coronavirus in October after several family members became infected.
The illness forced her to miss Biden’s trip to Italy, the Vatican and the United Kingdom.
In addition to Jean-Pierre and Psaki, second gentleman Doug Emhoff also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.
According to the White House, Biden most recently tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday.
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