Biden won't isolate after flying with positive COVID-19 patient

Biden tested negative for the coronavirus on Thursday, his campaign said in a statement.

Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks about the economy and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during a campaign stop at UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) Local 951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., October 2, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)
Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks about the economy and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during a campaign stop at UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) Local 951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., October 2, 2020
(photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)
WASHINGTON  - Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden flew on an airplane with a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 but Biden was not in close contact with the person and there is no need for him to quarantine, his campaign said on Thursday.
"Vice President Biden was not in close contact, as defined by the CDC, with this individual at any time," the statement said, adding they both wore masks during the flights, which occurred on Monday and Tuesday.
"Given these facts, we have been advised by the Vice President’s doctor and the campaign’s medical advisors that there is no need for the Vice President to quarantine," it said.
Biden tested negative for the coronavirus on Thursday, his campaign said in a statement.
The risk of exposure to the coronavirus on flights is very low, a US Department of Defense study released on Thursday found, a positive sign for the airline industry as it tries to rebound from the pandemic's crushing effect on travel.
When a seated passenger is wearing a mask, an average 0.003% of air particles within the breathing zone around a person's head are infectious, even when every seat is occupied, it found.