Updated Sep 4, 2023 - Politics & Policy

Jill Biden tests positive for COVID amid surge in U.S. cases

Rebecca Falconer

President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden depart the White House en route to Florida on September 2, 2023 in Washington, DC. The President and the first lady will be in Florida to tour storm-damaged communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia. — President Biden and first lady Jill Biden depart the White House on Sept. 2. Photo: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, but she's "experiencing only mild symptoms" and will remain at home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, her spokesperson announced Monday night.

Details: President Biden tested negative for the virus and "will test at a regular cadence this week and monitor for symptoms," per a White House statement.

Of note: President Biden is due to leave Thursday for the G20 summit in India.

The big picture: The first lady's positive test results come amid a surge in COVID infections across the U.S. after the emergence of new variants over the summer.

The latest available CDC figures show an 18.8% rise in COVID hospitalizations during the week of Aug. 13-19 — though hospitalizations remain far below their pandemic-era peak.

Go deeper: Experts warn the U.S. lacks COVID resources as cases tick up again

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Jill Biden tests positive for COVID amid surge in U.S. cases

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