US First Lady Jill Biden has been infected with the new coronavirus and is showing only “mild symptoms” of COVID-19, the White House announced, clarifying in a separate press release that President Joe Biden’s test had come back negative. .

The first lady, 72, will remain at the couple’s residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said.

Mrs. Biden was infected with SARS-CoV-2 a year ago.

Mr Biden, 80, tested negative last night but will continue to have tests in the coming days and will be monitored for symptoms this week, his spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said. .

The US has seen an increase in new coronavirus cases and hospital admissions in recent weeks.