Xavier Becerra, USA secretary of health and social services, test positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, his department said hours after the White House announced that Ashley Biden, daughter of President Biden and first lady, Jill Biden, tested positive.
None of them are considered close contact with Mr. Biden, the administration said. Close contact is someone who was less than six meters from an infected person for minimum 15 minutes over 24-hour period, according to the Centers for Guidelines for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ms Biden, 40, was supposed to travel to with Dr. Biden to Ecuador on Wednesday afternoon, but I won’t go again with her mother. Earlier this month, Ms. Biden was scheduled to accompany Dr. Biden. on her trip to Eastern Europe to visit Ukrainian refugees, but on night of trip the White House said that Ms. Biden was in close contact with someone who positive test result for coronavirus will remain behind.
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, said on Wednesday that Mr. Biden had not seen him daughter in “a few days.”
Mr. Becerra tested positive for virus on wednesday morning in Berlin, where he was supposed to participate in meetings for Group of 7 Ministers of Health, Sara Lowenheim, Assistant secretary for public affairs in the department of Health and social services, said in statement.
Mr. Becerra is fully vaccinated and strengthened and is experiencing mild symptoms, the statement said. He will continue work in isolation.
Mr. Becerra was last at the White House on Thursday is not considered close contact with Mr. Biden, according to Ms. Lowenheim. The White House demands masks and social distancing when meeting officials with the president.
Ms Biden and Mr Becerra are among the few of prominent people in presidential orbit who recently tested positive for coronavirus, renewing concerns about Mr. Biden’s potential infection, although neither was considered a close contact. Susan Rice, White House Attendant policy consultant, test positive last week.
