House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, a day after appearing unmasked at a White House event with President Joe Biden.

Spokesperson Drew Hammill announced the news on Thursday. Mr Hammill said Ms Pelosi had tested negative earlier in the week.

“The speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided,” Mr Hammill said in a tweet. 

He added that Ms Pelosi would “quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourage everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and tested regularly.”

Ms Pelosi’s positive COVID-19 result came a day after she was present for the signing of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 with Mr Biden. 

The White House clarified that Mr Biden and Ms Pelosi had only “brief interactions over the course of the last two days” and that the U.S. president was not considered a close contact of the speaker by CDC guidance.

“Last night, as a part of his regular testing cadence, the President tested negative,” the White House said in a statement. “He will continue to be tested regularly. The president wishes Speaker Pelosi a speedy recovery.”

Other members of Mr Biden’s administration who tested positive for COVID-19 include Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Congress members Adam Schiff, Katherine Clark, Joaquin Castro, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Derek Kilmer and Scott Peters.

Several of the officials who tested positive had attended events in Washington, DC, together.