A member of Tuesday’s White House pool tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) board.
“The individual tested negative on a rapid test Tuesday morning but began experiencing symptoms after returning home for the evening,” the WHCA board wrote Wednesday. “They underwent a rapid antigen test today that has returned positive. We are awaiting a confirming PCR test. The individual was only on the White House complex this week on Tuesday.”
It is not known which specific member of the pool tested positive for COVID-19. Members of the pool were in the same room as President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 2: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House on March 2, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden spoke about the recently announced partnership between Johnson & Johnson and Merck to produce more J&J COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)
Biden received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine before his inauguration. He received the first dose at the end of December 2020 and the second was administered in January 2021. (RELATED: White House Acknowledges ‘Confusion’ On Vaccine Distribution, Blames Trump Administration)
The White House Medical Unit began contact tracing as a result of the positive test. The White House also asked “any members of yesterday’s pool who are on the White House campus today to depart for the day,” the WHCA board noted.