Jill Biden positive for COVID, President Biden tests negative – White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 just days before President Joe Biden, who has tested negative for the virus, is due to travel to India for a Group of 20 summit 19 tested, the White House said on Monday.

Biden’s 72-year-old wife, whose symptoms have been described as mild, was last diagnosed with COVID in August last year. The now 80-year-old president last tested positive in July 2022.

“Tonight, the first lady tested positive for COVID-19,” her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement. “She will remain at her home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.”

Biden flew back alone from Delaware Monday night.

“Following the First Lady’s positive test for COVID-19, President Biden was administered a COVID test tonight,” the White House said. “The President has tested negative. The President will be testing and monitoring for symptoms periodically this week.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden’s foreign travel could be affected.

But Biden’s official weekly schedule, released shortly after the first lady’s diagnosis was announced, showed that he was traveling to New Delhi on Thursday to attend the G20 summit. Biden is scheduled to fly to Hanoi on Sunday.

Biden is running for re-election in 2024 in a campaign that has seen his age become a key issue for voters.

He’s the oldest president to seek a second term, and some Republicans say he’s too old for another four years in the White House.

Biden’s allies say he remains fit for president.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil, Matt Spetalnick, and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry Doyle)