Joe Biden to mask up after first lady tests positive for COVID-19

President Joe Biden will again wear a mask after first lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19.

The development comes amid renewed calls for mask mandates in light of a recent surge in cases. Critics have contended that such practices have minimal, if any, impact on the spread of COVID-19 and needlessly restrict personal liberties.

"President Biden tested negative last night for COVID-19 and tested negative again today. He is not experiencing any symptoms," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. "As far as the steps that he is taking, since the president was with the first lady yesterday, he will be masking while indoors and around people, in alignment with CDC guidance."

"And as has been the practice in the past, the president will remove his mask when sufficiently distanced from others indoors and while outside as well," she continued.

Biden's decision to again don a mask comes amid reports of a surge in COVID-19 and discussions of renewed mask mandates at the national level. 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.