Psaki reveals she tested positive for COVID after deciding not to accompany President Biden to G20

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealed on Sunday evening she had tested positive for COVID-19 after deciding not to travel with President Biden to the G20 summit in Rome because members of her family had already received positive tests.

‘While I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday – and tested negative for four days after that last contact – I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency,’ she said in a statement. 

‘I last saw the president on Tuesday, when we sat outside more than six-feet apart, and wore masks.’

She was a late scratch from Biden’s debut on the summit stage in Rome, replaced on the trip principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Officials at the time cited a family emergency. 

Psaki said: ‘On Wednesday, 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.’

She said she was working from home. 

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Sunday announced she had tested positive for COVID-19 after opting to travel with President Biden to the G20 summit in Rome.

‘Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms which has enabled me to continue working from home. 

‘I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the ten day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution.’