The Biden government issued a new internal guidance on Monday, saying it would cut down on daily coronavirus tests for White House employees to once a week, Axios learns.
Why does it matter: Now that most of the employees working at the 18-acre compound have been vaccinated, the government is easing some of its restrictions on coronavirus – a step closer to normal.
Flashback: Unlike the Trump administration – which had an indifferent attitude, generating outbreaks of COVID-19 in the West Wing and after an event in the Rose Garden – the Biden government created a bubble around the president during the 2020 campaign that continued until his arrival at the Oval Office.
- President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were vaccinated before taking office.
- The White House reduced the number of West Wing employees, demanded COVID examinations for employees authorized to enter, in addition to the routine use of N95 masks at all times and social distance.
- Within a week of starting work, Biden’s medical team had already administered the coronavirus vaccine to several hundred employees – with the aim of vaccinating all employees personally in the first few weeks, as Axios first reported.
White House spokesman Kevin Munoz said the “White House maintains strong protocols related to COVID-19”, such as wearing masks and social detachment, in addition to testing.
- “Our testing protocol is informed by a number of factors, including the employee’s vaccination status, and is just one of a series of measures in place to reduce risk in the workplace,” said Munoz.