NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond tested positive for COVDI-19 on Thursday, according to President-elect Joe Biden's transition team.
Biden transition spokesperson Kate Bedingfield says Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond tested positive on Thursday, two days after traveling to Atlanta to attend a campaign rally that Biden headlined for Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock.
Richmond tested positive on Dec. 17, a day after he began showing symptoms on Dec. 16 and began quarantining. Bedingfield says Richmond was not in close contact with Biden, Ossoff or Warnock, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Bedingfield, Richmond only came into close contact with two drivers during his trip, both of which are now also in quarantine.
She says Biden underwent COVID-19 testing on Thursday, and the virus was not detected.
"The protocols we have followed are consistent with protocols we followed during the campaign to ensure the safety of everyone involved," Bedingfield said. "We take all precautions possible, follow the best guidance of public health officials, and remain committed to transparency and information sharing when positive tests do arise."
The 47-year-old Richmond is set to resign from Congress to join the incoming Biden administration as a senior adviser.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
