UPDATE: Bidens’ tests both negative; Harris negative
The coronavirus tests for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, were negative, according to Biden.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus early Friday. Biden’s campaign is reportedly testing everyone who attended Tuesday night’s debate.
Meanwhile, Biden’s running mate, Calif. Sen. Kamala Harris, was tested for the coronavirus on Thursday and came up negative.
New: Kamala Harris was tested yesterday, as part of the campaign's routine testing of principals, and tested negative, official tells me.
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) October 2, 2020
Biden, 77, has made Trump’s handling of the pandemic a major flashpoint in his race to unseat the first-term Republican chief executive.
NEW: @joeBiden campaign has rapid-testing capability and is testing everyone who attended the debate, a source familiar tells me.
— Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) October 2, 2020
Biden, who spent much of the summer off the campaign trail and at his home in Delaware because of the virus, has since resumed a more active campaign schedule, but with small, socially distanced crowds.
New: In light of the president’s positive test, former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to get tested for coronavirus this morning, a source familiar with his plans tells @jamiegangel
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 2, 2020
On Friday, Biden and his wife tweeted their prayers for the president and first lady.
Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 2, 2020
An NBC correspondent was told by Biden campaign officials there has been no formal contact from the Trump campaign or the White House to alert them of potential coronavirus exposure.
This story is being updated with the latest details.
About the Author
Tim Darnell is an Atlanta native and veteran of several local, national, and international news, business and sports publications.
