Biden tests positive for Covid-19

First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for the virus for the second time, as announced by the White House on Monday night.

While she is currently experiencing only mild symptoms, she will remain at their home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, according to Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, who is scheduled to leave for a G20 meeting in India later this week, received a negative Covid-19 test result on Monday evening.

“As a precautionary measure, he will continue to be tested regularly throughout the week and closely monitor for any symptoms,” stated Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary.

This positive Covid-19 result for Jill Biden came after the first couple spent the Labor Day weekend together.

Both Jill and Joe Biden had previously tested positive for Covid-19 in the past, with Jill’s previous infection occurring in August last year and Joe’s in the prior month.

The United States is currently witnessing a late-summer uptick in Covid-19 cases, with experts closely monitoring two new variants: EG.5, which has become the dominant strain, and BA.2.86, drawing attention from scientists due to its numerous mutations.

Despite this increase in cases, experts emphasize that the situation is notably different from the crisis faced in 2020 and 2021.

Mandy Cohen, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated, “We’re in a different place. I think we’re the most prepared that we’ve ever been.”

Adding to the ongoing efforts to combat the pandemic, new Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots are expected to become available in the coming fall, further aiding the nation’s response to the virus.