The White House is facing questions over why it is not considering President Joe Biden a close contact of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
During a press conference on Thursday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked, “How can you guys say that President Biden was not a close contact with speaker Pelosi when there’s a video of the speaker kissing him?”
The question comes after Pelosi tested positive for COVID-19.
“Well, Peter, the way that it is defined is by the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, and their definition of it is 15 minutes of contact within a set period of time, within six feet. It did not meet that bar,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded.
She added, “It does not mean that no one will get Covid around the world who does not have a close contact. It just means we are defining for all of you whether the president and their interaction met the definition of a close contact.”
Watch the exchange below:
Doocy: "How can you guys say that President Biden was not a close contact with speaker Pelosi when there's video of the speaker kissing him?"
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) April 7, 2022
Psaki: The CDC's "definition of it is 15 minutes of contact within a set period of time, within six feet. It did not meet that bar." pic.twitter.com/T7U8kE5EoR
On Thursday, Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, tweeted, “After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic.”
“The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided,” he continued.
After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic. The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided. (1/2)
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) April 7, 2022
On Tuesday, Pelosi, 82, joined Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama at the White House for an event commemorating the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Biden, 79, received a second booster shot against the virus last week.
The Washington Examiner’s Jerry Dunleavy shared a picture of Pelosi kissing Biden on the cheek during that event.
Biden gave Pelosi a kiss Tuesday. It was announced Thursday she is positive for covid. CDC guidance on what a “close contact” is doesn’t specifically weigh in on one octogenarian who tests positive having embraced another near octogenarian, tho it does lay out other guidelines. pic.twitter.com/dsbHQb4etu
— Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) April 7, 2022
And on Wednesday, Pelosi joined Biden when he signed the Postal Service Reform Act.
Pelosi, who has tested positive for COVID-19 was with Joe Biden yesterday for the signing of the Postal Reform bill pic.twitter.com/5KWWynU4Ro
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) April 7, 2022
As Politico notes, several high profile Democrats and members of Biden’s Cabinet have tested positive for the virus in recent days, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas).
And on Wednesday, Harris’ communications director Jamal Simmons also tested positive for Covid.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not consider someone a close contact if they were “in the presence” of someone who had a confirmed case of the virus for less than a “cumulative total of 15 minutes” over a 24 hour period.
Even if Biden did fall into the category of a close contact, the CDC guidance says that people who are up to date on their vaccination status do not need to quarantine. However, it says they should get tested “at least 5 days” after the contact and wear a mask when around other people for 10 days.