The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 recommendations will be followed by US President Joe Biden during his planned travel to India for the G20 Summit and his subsequent trip to Vietnam, according to a statement from the White House.
Jill Biden, the first lady, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, prompting today’s announcement. Following his wife’s positive test, President Biden, 80, had two tests done for the virus on Monday and Tuesday; both tests came back negative.
The president will continue to exercise caution and follow CDC recommendations when travelling even though his test results were negative. President Biden will get tested before his trip to India, according to the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who said this during a press conference. He will get tested on a regular basis as determined by his doctor.
In order to attend the G20 Summit and hold a private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8, President Biden is expected to fly to India on September 7. India is hosting the annual summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10, serving as the G20’s current president.
The CDC does not advise routine testing after close contact with a COVID-positive person, Jean-Pierre emphasised. The CDC suggests a variety of strategies instead, including symptom monitoring, testing, and masking. She stated that the president has no symptoms and that the White House will keep up with CDC recommendations and routine testing.
There are currently no updates or adjustments to President Biden’s travel arrangements, and the White House’s procedures for testing senior staff employees will not change.
Leaders from a number of nations, including France, Australia, Germany, the UK, Japan, and Brazil, among others, will be present at the G20 Summit. On September 10, India will formally hand the G20 Presidency on to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
A considerable amount of the world’s population, trade, and GDP are represented by the G20 countries, making it a powerful international forum.