Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19 five days after Madison visit

MADISON — First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 five days after visiting Madison, where she spent the day with state and local officials, community leaders and teachers unions.

Biden tested positive Monday night and is experiencing mild symptoms, according to her spokeswoman. President Joe Biden tested negative and will continue testing and monitoring for symptoms this week.

The first lady made multiple stops in Madison Thursday to promote cancer initiatives, speak to educators and attend a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Baldwin, Gov. Tony Evers, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and other local officials were with Biden throughout the day.

Baldwin is not experiencing symptoms and will take a test Wednesday, the fifth full day after exposure, a spokesman said. She was wearing a mask in the Senate Tuesday and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she tested negative this morning.

Evers has not tested positive, is not experiencing symptoms and will take necessary precautions, his spokeswoman said.

Biden and Baldwin met with leadership and employees at Exact Sciences' laboratory before making a stop at the Foundation for Black Women's Wellness, where they spoke with six health care and community leaders. An audience of about 20 people was also in the room, along with about 15 members of the press.

Biden later spoke to more than 500 teachers and union members in the gymnasium of Glacier Edge Elementary School in Verona. She took photos with teachers after her remarks and made unplanned stops to meet parents and children gathered outside the school and a nearby day care center.

Evers, who was with Biden for part of the day, is also visiting schools this week to celebrate the start of classes, including a stop at Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Biden also briefly addressed about 200 supporters gathered for a fundraiser for Baldwin Thursday evening but did not greet or take photos with them.

In Wisconsin, the number of weekly hospital admissions for COVID-19 has more than doubled since July, according to CDC data. Hospitalizations are currently rated low in Dane County.

A new variant, BA.2.86, has not yet been detected in Wisconsin, though other variants may be circulating.

Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jill Biden tests positive for COVID five days after Madison stops