First Lady Jill Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus and will self-isolate and begin a course of antiviral treatment, the White House said. “After testing negative for COVID-19 on Monday during her routine testing, the First Lady began experiencing cold-like symptoms late at night,” her spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement. “A rapid antigen test came back negative, but the PCR test came back positive.” Alexander noted that Jill Biden, 71, is “double-vaccinated, twice-boosted and has only mild symptoms.” The first lady has been prescribed the antiviral treatment Paxlovid and will be isolated from others for at least five days, according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The First Lady’s close contacts have been notified,” Alexander said. “He is currently staying at a private residence in South Carolina and will return home after receiving two consecutive negative COVID tests.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed many of its coronavirus recommendations and put more responsibility on individuals. (Video: The Washington Post) The first lady’s positive test comes just weeks after President Biden, 79, tested positive for the coronavirus on July 21. The president tested negative for the coronavirus Tuesday morning in an antigen test, but will cover up for 10 days when he is indoors and in close proximity to others because he is in close contact with the first lady, White House press secretary Karyn Jean- Pierre. “We will also increase the rate of testing of the President and report those results,” he added. Jill Biden was scheduled to travel to Florida on Thursday and Friday to speak at two events dedicated to veterans and military families.
