Biden Tests Negative for COVID-19, Will Wear Mask After First Lady’s Positive Test

President Joe Biden walks on the south lawn of the White House on Sept. 4, 2023. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID-19 but will start wearing a mask inside as part of a cautious approach after First Lady Jill Biden tested positive, the White House stated on Sept. 5.

“Since the president was with the first lady yesterday, he will be masking while indoors and around people,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in Washington, citing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“He’s going to be very cautious; he’s going to wear a mask,” Ms. Jean-Pierre added.

The CDC says that people who are exposed to COVID-19 should wear a mask as soon as they find out and that they should keep wearing a mask and taking other precautions up to 10 days after the exposure even if they test negative.

Ms. Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 4.

President Biden tested negative on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.

Both the president, 80, and the first lady, 72, are in one of the highest-risk categories for the disease because of their age. On the other hand, COVID-19 metrics are at near-lows even with recent upticks in cases and hospitalizations.

Ms. Biden, who was with her husband in Florida on Sept. 2, is still experiencing mild symptoms, the White House stated. Ms. Biden will stay in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the week.

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden depart the White House en route to Florida on Sept. 2, 2023. Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

Later on Sept. 5, President Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to Capt. Larry Taylor, who was an Army pilot during the Vietnam War.

President Biden is also preparing for a trip to the G20 summit in India. He is currently scheduled to depart on Sept. 7.

The White House declined to say whether a positive test would result in the cancellation of the president’s trip.

The president and government officials traveling with him will all test before the trip.

President Biden will be tested “on a regular cadence determined by his physician,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.

President Biden and Ms. Biden have received a COVID-19 vaccine and multiple boosters, which have increasingly been shown to be ineffective at combating infection and severe illness.

COVID-19 vaccines in Washington on Dec. 14, 2020. Jacquelyn Martin/AFP via Getty Images

Regulators are poised to clear a new slate of shots this month to try to stem the problem.

Despite a lack of clinical trial efficacy data and no publicly released review from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the White House has said the vaccines are safe and effective.

U.S. health officials have scheduled a meeting on vaccine recommendations on Sept. 12, signaling that a decision is coming before then.

President Biden told reporters recently that his administration would likely recommend that everyone receive one of the forthcoming vaccines, even those who have received multiple doses.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping enters the APEC Economic Leaders Sustainable Trade and Investment meeting in Bangkok on Nov. 19, 2022. Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

China

Reports suggest that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is planning on skipping the summit in India.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sept. 5 that China could “come in and play the role of a spoiler” but that other members plan to encourage the country to “set aside geopolitical questions” and help members figure out solutions to problems.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to miss the meeting.

Mr. Sullivan said it would be difficult to get a consensus on the Russia–Ukraine war, especially given that Russian representatives will be attending the summit. But he said that most members of the U.N. General Assembly view the war as an illegal act by Russia.

President Biden plans to participate in a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before taking part in summit meetings.

“Our focus is going to be on delivering for developing countries, making progress on key priorities for the American people—from climate to technology—and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that ... can actually deliver,” Mr. Sullivan said.

The United States is also prepared to welcome the African Union as the newest permanent member of the G20, which is made up of the world’s leading wealthy and developing nations.