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Washington (AFP) – Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin tested positive for Covid-19, forcing him to leave a gala event attended by President Joe Biden and the plans for the two leaders for Saint Patrick’s Day at the White House on Thursday to celebrate.
Martin, who holds the position known as the Taoiseach in Ireland, was pictured next to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Ireland Funds Gala event at the National Building Museum in Washington late Wednesday shortly before leaving due to a positive PCR test.
Biden was at the same dinner and was scheduled to host Martin at the Oval Office on Thursday, as well as at an annual Saint Patrick’s Day ceremony where the Irish prime minister presented the US president with a bowl of shamrock grown in Ballinskelligs, southwestern Ireland.
A White House official said the bid was not considered a threat and had not been tested.
“He is not a close contact, so the test cadence does not change,” the official said.
An Irish government spokesman said Martin’s positive test followed two negative tests, including one earlier Wednesday.
“A further test was carried out when one of the Taoiseach delegations received a positive test, which led to a later positive result for the Taoiseach,” the spokesman said.
Irish Ambassador to the United States Daniel Mulhall tweeted that he gave Taoiseach’s speech for him after he left dinner on Wednesday and “I wish Taoiseach well for his recovery.”
In his own speech at the gala, Biden spoke of his Irish roots, saying “I inherit my mother’s side from the overwhelming pride of the family, overwhelming pride in being Irish.”
Martin, who stays in the White House guest facilities, Blair House, “feels good and is currently isolating himself on public health advice,” the Irish government said.
It was unclear how his positive outcome would affect the rest of his schedule in the US or his return to Ireland, which on Sunday will be a national day of remembrance for those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the second high Covid positive case near Biden in just days.
On Tuesday, the White House said Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, had a positive test, but that Harris and Biden were not affected.
© 2022 AFP
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