Biden tests negative for COVID-19 ahead of India trip

President Biden on Thursday tested negative for COVID-19 as he prepared to take off for India for the Group of 20 (G20) Summit and as he has shown limited regard for safety protocols the White House said he would follow.

The White House shared the news of Biden’s latest negative test roughly an hour before he was scheduled to depart for India, where he will spend the next few days. He will also travel to Vietnam before returning to Washington, D.C., next Monday.

Biden has tested negative for the virus four consecutive days after first lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. The two were together in Rehoboth Beach, Del., over the weekend, and both the president and first lady traveled to Florida last Saturday to survey damage from Hurricane Idalia.

The White House had said Biden would be be tested regularly by his physician in light of the first lady’s positive test, and that the president would wear a mask while indoors and around others in order to limit his exposure to others because of his close contact with the first lady.

Biden on Tuesday initially wore a mask to a Medal of Honor ceremony, though he removed it to make remarks, and he did not put his mask back on when he stood next to the honoree, Capt. Larry Taylor.

The president Wednesday did not wear a mask as he entered the room to make remarks about a new contract for union workers at ports on the West Coast.

“Let me explain to the press: I’ve been tested again today. I’m clear across the board, but they keep telling me, because this has to be 10 days or something, I got to keep wearing it. But don’t tell them I didn’t have it on when I walked in,” Biden said with a laugh.