Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tests negative for coronavirus following President Donald Trump's diagnosis.
Biden, after his coronavirus test turned out negative, went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Friday for a campaign visit.
“I’d like to start by acknowledging [and] sending my prayers for the health and safety of the first lady and president of the United States,” said Biden at an event held by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. “My wife Jill and I pray that they’ll make a quick and full recovery.”
“This is not a matter of politics,” Biden stressed. “It’s a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously.”
Ron Klain, Biden's top campaign adviser, said that their campaign will suspend its negative advertising against Trump for the time being.
During his speech in Grand Rapids, Biden said he was late because he had to wait for the results of two separate Covid-19 tests.
“We wanted to make sure that we’re doing everything by the numbers, so I got two, two COVID tests this morning. One in Delaware and one by the former White House doc who came up. And everything is clear, we wanted to make sure everything was clear before I came,” Biden emphasized in his remarks.
Biden also posted on Twitter about the negative result earlier in the day.
The Biden campaign reported that the former vice president and his wife, Jill Biden, underwent tests out of caution.
Social distancing during the debate
Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, said that one negative test after potential exposure to the virus is not sufficient to determine that one has no Covid-19.
“All the people who said they were at the debate or at the rally here in Minnesota, or at a fundraiser here in Minnesota this week, none of those tests really are that meaningful to me yet by saying they’re negative,” Osterholm told CNBC’s “Power Lunch.”
He explained that it may take up to 14 days before persons who were exposed to Covid-19 manifest signs or symptoms of infection. “Most of the people will be showing signs of illness if they’re going to get ill and be positive by testing at seven or eight days," he said.
Biden was in the same room as Trump for about two hours during the presidential debate on Tuesday in Cleveland. None of them wore a mask on stage nor did moderator Chris Wallace.
However, the podiums of the presidential candidates were placed approximately 8 feet apart and they were not close to one another. The Centers for Disease Control’s guidance recommends 6 feet for social distancing.
Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, went to Las Vegas, where she had an event Friday evening. Harris also tested negative for the coronavirus, according to campaign aides.
Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez also tested negative on Friday, according to a spokeswoman. Both Biden and Harris sent best wishes to Trump and first lady on Friday.
