US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, a day after appearing unmasked at a White House event with President Joe Biden.
Ms Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic, her spokesman Drew Hammill said on Thursday in a tweet. He said she had tested negative earlier in the week.
"The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided," Mr Hammill said.
He said Ms Pelosi would "quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly".
Ms Pelosi stood near Mr Biden briefly during a ceremony to sign a postal reform bill on Wednesday.
She also attended a White House event on Tuesday with Mr Biden and former president Barack Obama.
The White House said Mr Biden and Ms Pelosi had only "brief interactions over the course of the last two days" and that the President was not considered a close contact of the Speaker by CDC guidance, which defines close contact as sustained unmasked contact within 1.8 metres for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.
"Last night as a part of his regular testing cadence, the President tested negative," the White House said in a statement.
"He will continue to be tested regularly. The President wishes Speaker Pelosi a speedy recovery."
The 82-year-old Democratic leader's announcement came ahead of her weekly press appearance on Capitol Hill, which was abruptly called off. The House is set to start a two-week spring recess.
Ms Pelosi also postponed a planned congressional delegation trip to Asia that she was scheduled to lead.
A spate of new cases in Washington
Washington has experienced a spate of new COVID-19 cases as restrictions have lifted and more events and gatherings are happening across Washington, DC.
On Wednesday, Attorney-General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced positive tests.
The officials were among more than a dozen attendees of the Saturday night Gridiron Club dinner to test positive for the virus.
Ms Pelosi did not attend the dinner, her spokesman said.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also announced on Thursday that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and would "work at home while following isolation protocols".
Several other politicians announced positive test results and are isolating.
The House continues to allow remote voting so members can casts ballots while they are in isolation.
The CDC said people vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 were much less likely to suffer adverse outcomes, including serious illness and death, from the virus compared to those not vaccinated.
ABC/wires
