The president was near the staff member for about 30 minutes on Air Force One.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 807,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
About 61.5% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Latest headlines:
Biden tests negative after close contact with positive staff member
U.S. records what’s believed to be 1st known omicron related death
Northeast sees highest number of pediatric cases of entire pandemic
WHO DG recommends canceling or delaying holiday events
US daily cases have nearly doubled since October
Dr. Jha on omicron surge, holiday travel, his prediction for next year
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Dec 20, 10:58 pm
Maryland governor tests positive for COVID-19
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday evening he tested positive for COVID-19 during his regular testing routine.
“I am experiencing some cold-like symptoms, and will continue to quarantine and work from home throughout the week,” he said in a statement. “With the omicron variant becoming increasingly dominant, I want to again urge Marylanders who haven’t yet to go out and get your booster shot as soon as possible.”
The governor said he is vaccinated, boosted and “feeling fine.”
Hogan appeared this weekend on Fox News Sunday. In the interview, the governor said he did not have plans to implement lockdowns, but rather continues to urge people to get vaccinated and boosted.
Dec 20, 7:43 pm
Biden tests negative after close contact with positive staff member
President Joe Biden was exposed to a staff member who recently tested positive for COVID-19, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Monday evening.
Biden was near the staff member for about 30 minutes on Air Force One on Friday, during a trip to Philadelphia from South Carolina, according to Psaki.
The staff member, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, tested negative Friday morning, but tested positive Monday, according to the White House.
PHOTO: President Joe Biden wears a Covid-19 protective mask while attending a meeting at the White House in Washington, Dec. 16, 2021.
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
President Joe Biden wears a Covid-19 protective mask while attending a meeting at the…Read More
The president received an antigen test Sunday and a PCR test Monday, and both came back negative, Psaki said in a statement. He will receive another test Wednesday, she said.
“As CDC guidance does not require fully vaccinated people to quarantine after an exposure, the president will continue with his daily schedule,” Psaki said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky
Dec 20, 6:51 pm
U.S. records what’s believed to be 1st known omicron related death
Health officials in Texas announced Monday that it recorded the first death related to the omicron COVID-19 variant.
This is believed to be the first known recorded omicron death in the U.S.
Harris County Health officials would only say the victim was “a man in his 50s,” who was unvaccinated and had underlying health conditions..
Public health officials do not think omicron is more virulent than previous variants, but they do say in general vaccination and a booster shot when eligible appears to lower your risk for severe illness.
More military teams to be deployed to hospitals
The military announced it is sending two teams to hospitals in Wisconsin and Indiana to assist with rising COVID-19 cases.
The 20-person teams include nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical doctors from the U.S. Navy.
They will be assisting Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis starting on Christmas Day and Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin starting on New Year’s Eve, according to a U.S. Army North spokesperson.
Ten other military teams have been deployed to hospitals in five other states.
