Topline
President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond tested positive for coronavirus days after interacting with Biden during a trip to Georgia on Tuesday, according to a statement from transition spokesperson Kate Bedingfield.
![Election 2020 Biden](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218125512im_/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5fdbe1c4ab3ab5ac99fdb507/960x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=6000&cropY1=237&cropY2=3612)
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks with Rep. Cedric Richmond, ... [+]
Key Facts
After returning from the Georgia visit, Richmond developed symptoms and tested positive from a rapid test on Wednesday before testing positive again from a more accurate PCR test – which can detect the virus sooner and without symptoms – on Thursday, the statement says.
The statement says Biden had interactions with Richmond but insists that they fall outside the Centers for Disease Control’s definition of “close contact” because they “happened in open air, were masked and totaled less than 15 consecutive minutes.”
Covid-19 was not detected in a PCR test Biden took on Thursday, the statement says.
Asked whether Biden will quarantine after interacting with Richmond, a transition spokesperson pointed to the statement, which says Richmond will quarantine for 14 days – as will two individuals he had close contact with – but makes no mention of plans for Biden to do so.
The spokesperson also referred to past comments when asked if the development would accelerate the timeline for when Biden receives a vaccine – the transition has said Biden will get it as soon as next week.
The news comes just one day after a reporter in Biden’s press pool who traveled with the president-elect tested positive and, along with a traveling communications aide they had close contact with, went into quarantine.
Key Background
In contrast with the White House – which has been stricken with several major outbreaks of the virus after taking a generally cavalier attitude towards health precautions – the Biden campaign and transition have been relatively coronavirus-free. The campaign had a scare in October when individuals who flew with both Biden and now-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris tested positive, but those infectious did not prompt outbreaks or spread to the candidates.
Crucial Quote
“The protocols we have followed are consistent with protocols followed during the campaign to ensure the safely of everyone involved,” Bedingfield said. “We take all precautions possible, follow the best guidance of public health officials and remain committed to transparency and information sharing when positive tests do arise.”
What To Watch For
According to the statement, Richmond must test negative twice from PCR test before he returns to in-person work in Congress or the transition. The reporter who tested positive will have to be cleared as well.
I am a news reporter covering politics and the Biden transition. I have previously worked for MSNBC and Chronogram Magazine. I attended Vassar College and the London
…I am a news reporter covering politics and the Biden transition. I have previously worked for MSNBC and Chronogram Magazine. I attended Vassar College and the London School of Economics.