President-elect Joe Biden tested negative for the coronavirus after declaring that he had “a bit of a cold” while delivering remarks to supporters after his Electoral College victory speech.
He underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 on Tuesday, and the virus was not detected, according to the Biden-Harris Transition. PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, tests are viewed as the “gold standard” in detecting COVID-19. Biden, who is 78 years old, is in a high-risk category for the virus due to his age.
Biden’s remarks on Monday occurred shortly after he surpassed the 270-vote threshold required to win the White House. He coughed and cleared his throat several times during the speech, sparking concern among some viewers on social media.
“Thank you. I have a little bit of a cold. I’m sorry, but look, you know, you did it, you did it, not a joke,” he said during the broadcast.
The president-elect was last tested for the coronavirus on Friday.
