Biden adviser Cedric Richmond tests positive for coronavirus

Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, who will join the incoming Biden administration as a White House senior adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement, tested positive for Covid-19, Biden transition spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said Thursday in a statement, Report informs, citing foreign press.

Richmond recently traveled to Atlanta for a Tuesday campaign event for the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, where President-elect Joe Biden was also present.

Bedingfield said that Biden on Thursday underwent PCR testing for Covid-19, and the virus was not detected.

"Richmond's interactions with the President-elect happened in the open air were masked and totaled less than 15 consecutive minutes, the CDC's timeframe for close contact," Bedingfield said.

The congressman traveled to Georgia on his own and not with the President-elect, according to Bedingfield.

Richmond is expected to quarantine for 14 days and will have to test negative for two PCR tests before he returns for any in-person work in Congress or on the transition, Bedingfield said.