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A Biden Aide Has Tested Positive for COVID-19 After the COP26 Summit in Scotland

A White Home aide who accompanied Joe Biden to worldwide summits in Europe final week examined constructive for coronavirus an infection earlier than the president returned to the U.S., based on folks aware of the matter.

The aide and a few of Biden’s different touring employees remained in Scotland after the president attended the United Nations local weather summit in Glasgow due to concern about transmission, the folks mentioned. The precise variety of employees concerned is unclear.

The aide, who examined constructive by way of a fast check, is in quarantine in Scotland and awaiting a follow-up PCR check, a White Home official mentioned. The aide just isn’t believed to have had shut contact with the president.
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Biden himself examined adverse on Tuesday, the official mentioned Thursday night.

The aide is on the Nationwide Safety Council employees, based on the folks. Workers members who had contact with the aide have to date examined adverse, the official mentioned. They had been purported to fly again to Washington with Biden Sunday on Air Pressure One or a help airplane, however have since returned on different authorities plane.

White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki supposed to journey with Biden however remained house in Washington after members of the family contracted Covid-19. She was contaminated herself over the weekend, she introduced.

Psaki mentioned Thursday she had signs, together with fatigue and chills, however has been working from house for the reason that day she bought her constructive check. She is absolutely vaccinated and just lately acquired a booster shot.

Officers don’t suppose the NSC aide’s sickness is tied to Psaki’s, a number of folks aware of the matter mentioned.

The folks aware of the matter spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the White Home has not publicly disclosed the constructive case in Europe or any measures taken to stop additional transmission.

Psaki has mentioned that the White Home would make public infections amongst “commissioned officers” on Biden’s employees, which usually means senior aides with the phrases “assistant to the president” of their titles. That features Psaki herself.

The White Home on Thursday night time declined to say if the aide is a commissioned officer. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti additionally examined constructive for Covid-19 whereas on the COP26 summit in Glasgow, based on his spokesperson.

Former President Donald Trump confronted important criticism for efforts by his White Home to hide the extent of a coronavirus outbreak amongst his employees earlier than he stood for re-election final November.

A number of different overseas leaders skipped the Group of 20 summit in Rome and the UN local weather summit in Glasgow, Scotland, at the very least partially out of concern in regards to the persevering with pandemic. However Biden mentioned he thought it was essential to attend the conferences in particular person, and he chided China’s president, Xi Jinping, specifically for not taking part.

With help from Jennifer Epstein and Nick Wadhams

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