Jen Psaki tests positive for COVID-19, won’t join Biden for Europe trip White House Press Secretary Jenn Psaki. (Pool/Abaca Press/TNS)
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki – one of President Joe Biden’s closest administration members – has tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday afternoon.
Psaki tested positive during a routine test required for administration members accompanying Biden on his trip to Europe. Now that she has tested positive, she won’t be joining Biden on his trip and will instead quarantine at home.
“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.
Psaki added that Biden tested negative today and is not considered a close contact.
“I had two socially-distanced meetings with the President yesterday, and the President 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,” she added.
Psaki said she is only experiencing “mild symptoms” which she attributes to being vaccinated. She added that she will work from home during a five-day quarantine and will return to work after testing negative.
On Monday, Psaki had appeared at the White House for a press briefing alongside Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger.
