White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tested positive for the coronavirus, after saying she would not join President Joe Biden on his Europe trip due to a family emergency.
Psaki, who is vaccinated and announced her breakthrough case on Sunday, had said earlier in the week that she would not join Biden.
‘While I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday, I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency,’ Psaki said.
‘I last saw the president on Tuesday, when we sat outside more than six feet apart, and wore masks.’
Psaki disclosed that her household members caught the coronavirus and that she immediately quarantined. The press secretary tested negative for the virus last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but found out she had it on Sunday.
‘Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home,’ Psaki said.
It was not immediately known whether Psaki had received a booster shot, which she and the Biden administration have been pushing.
Psaki said she will physically return to work after a 10-day quarantine after testing negative on a rapid test. That is ‘an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution’, she said.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre instead traveled to Europe with Biden.
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