London Defender

The Daily Mirror of the Great Britain

President Joe Biden comes into ‘close contact’ with Covid-carrying White House staffer

Joe Biden, 79, travelled on the President’s official aircraft Air Force One from Orangeburg in South Carolina to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. During the flight, the 46th President is said to have spent around half an hour with a “mid-level” White House staffer who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, 43, revealed the President came into contact with the Covid-carrying staffer in a statement.

He said: “On Monday morning, a mid-level staff member, who does not regularly have contact with the President, received a positive result for a COVID-19 test.

“Three days earlier, on Friday, that staff member had spent approximately 30 minutes in proximity to the President on Air Force One, on the way from Orangeburg, South Carolina to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“This staff member is fully vaccinated and boosted, and tested negative prior to boarding Air Force One, as is required for everyone travelling with the President.

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“This staff member did not begin to experience symptoms until Sunday, and was tested on Monday.”

Ms Psaki added: “Others on Air Force One who were in close contact with this staff member are being contacted and will be advised to get tested per CDC guidance.

“The President is tested on a regular basis.

“As part of that regular testing, the President received an antigen test Sunday, and tested negative.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 77.4 percent of people aged 5 and over have received at least one COVID-19 jab.

Just over 61 percent have received two doses and almost 30 percent have been inoculated with their booster vaccine.

The number of new cases recorded in America stood at 88,379 on Sunday.