Passenger on Joe Biden’s campaign plane tests positive for coronavirus
- Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris has cancelled campaign plans after two staff members caught Covid-19
- The three infections are first confirmed cases in Biden campaign, after US President Donald Trump and dozens of White House staff contracted virus last month
A passenger on Joe Biden’s campaign plane has tested positive for Covid-19, the Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign announced on Thursday.
An administrator for the aviation charter company the campaign uses was on the plane this week for trips to Ohio and Florida but sat more than 50 feet (15 metres) from the former vice-president, used a different entrance and exit, and both Biden and the person were wearing masks at all times, campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement.
She added that health advisers said there was no need for Biden to quarantine.
The announcement of the diagnosis of someone who was on the same plane but not in contact with Biden was part of the campaign’s effort to contrast with US President Donald Trump’s handling of the virus. The positive coronavirus test of one of Trump’s closest aides, which was closely followed by his own diagnosis, came out through leaks to reporters.
Biden tested negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday night, the campaign said.