Biden tests negative for COVID-19 after close contact with aide

President Biden on Wednesday tested negative for COVID-19 after taking a PCR test, following close contact with an aide who tested positive earlier this week. 

“This morning, President Biden received a PCR test and the test result was negative,” according to the White House.

This negative test is the president’s second in a week — he also tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday following the news of the staffer’s diagnosis. He also received an antigen test on Sunday as part of regular testing, which was also negative.

A midlevel staff member, whom the White House has not identified, spent 30 minutes with Biden on Air Force One on Friday on a trip from South Carolina to Philadelphia. The staffer is fully vaccinated and received their booster and tested negative before the trip, but tested positive on Monday. 

Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and received his booster in September.

The White House regularly tests aides who come in close contact with the president and cases among high-level officials have remained low, aside from White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early November.