Psaki Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Transmission From Family Members

Psaki Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Transmission From Family Members
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki calls on reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 27, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Melanie Sun
10/31/2021
Updated:
11/5/2021

White House press secretary Jennifer Psaki has said that she has tested positive for COVID-19 days after members of her household came down with the virus.

Psaki, who opted to stay in Washington due to a family emergency as President Joe Biden left for his trip to Rome and Glasgow on Oct. 28, said in a statement on Sunday, “On Wednesday [Oct. 27], in coordination with senior leadership at the White House and the medical team, I made the decision not to travel on the foreign trip with the President due to a family emergency, which was members of my household testing positive for COVID-19.”

“Since then, I have quarantined and tested negative (via PCR) for COVID on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. However, today, I tested positive for COVID,” she said. The press secretary is fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

The press secretary last saw Biden on Oct. 26.

Psaki said she is only experiencing mild symptoms, thanks to what she believes is the vaccine, and has been well enough to work from home. She plans to return to the White House after ten days of quarantine given a negative rapid test.

“I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency,” Psaki said.