House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive for COVID-19 a day after she met with US President Joe Biden at the White House for the Postal services bill signing. The Democrat from California is is fully vaccinated and boosted.
Pelosi is currently asymptomatic, her spokesman Drew Hammill said Thursday in a tweet. She had tested negative earlier in the week.
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“The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided,” Hammill said.
Pelosi will “quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly,” he said.
“A planned Congressional delegation to Asia, led by Speaker Peolose will be postponed to a later date,” Hammill further said.
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The 82-year-old Democratic leader’s announcement came ahead of her weekly press appearance on Capitol Hill. The House is set to start a two week spring recess.
Valerie Biden Owens, the sister of President Joe Biden, also tested positive for the coronavirus, her book publisher, Celadon Books confirmed in a brief statement.
Biden Owens was set to begin a book tour this week to promote her memoir “Growing Up Biden,” which will be released on April 12.
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Biden Owens had not been in close contact with the president or first lady, the publisher said.
Pelosi and Biden Owens’ announcement comes a day after Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Vice President Kamala Harris’ communications director Jamal Simmons said they had tested positive for COVID-19.
The three had attended the annual Gridiron Dinner Saturday night along with several governement officials. Pelosi was not at the dinner but her spokesman, Hammill, was.
President Biden is regularly tested for coronavirus. His last negative test came on Monday.
