First lady tests positive for COVID

US first lady Jill Biden speaks during an event about cyber security in schools in the East Room of the White House August 8, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday night, according to a statement.

She is experiencing mild symptoms and will stay at her home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., her communications director Elizabeth Alexander said. The first lady was scheduled to begin the new school year teaching English and writing at Northern Virginia Community College on Tuesday, but she now is working with the school to get a substitute teacher, Alexander told The Associated Press. 

This comes just ahead of President Biden’s planned trip to India for the G20 summit. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden tested negative Monday evening shortly after the first lady tested positive and noted he will monitor for symptoms and test regularly this week. 

The first lady traveled with Biden to Florida on Saturday to survey the damage from Hurricane Idalia. Biden then spent part of the weekend at their Delaware beach house and traveled Monday to Philadelphia for a labor union event. He is now back at the White House. 

Both Biden and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19 last summer, and they each experienced mild symptoms. 

Updated on Sept. 5 at 7:25 a.m.

Tags COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic Elizabeth Alexander Jill Biden Jill Biden Joe Biden Karine Jean-Pierre white house

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