Positive coronavirus tests disrupt Joe Biden, Kamala Harris campaigns

Person on Joe Biden’s plane tests positive for coronavirus, while Kamala Harris cancels travel after staffer, crew member infected.

Former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris have had their campaigns disrupted by separate coronavirus scares. Picture: AFP

A person who travelled on Joe Biden’s plane to Ohio and Florida this week has tested positive for the coronavirus, his campaign has announced.

Democrat vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris has also cancelled campaign travel until early next week after her communications director and a crew member on her plane tested positive for coronavirus.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden boards his campaign plane earlier this week. Picture: AFP

The Biden campaign said the person who tested positive on Mr Biden’s plane worked for the aircraft’s charter company but was not near the 77-year-old presidential candidate at any point before, during or after the flights.

“The vice president did not even have passing contact: this individual was over 50 feet from VP Biden at all times,” a Biden campaign statement said, adding that the person sat in the last row of the plane, far from where Mr Biden sat.

“Given these facts, we have been advised by the vice president’s doctor and the campaign’s medical advisers that there is no need for the vice president to quarantine.”

The news came ahead of duelling town hall meetings today for Donald Trump and Mr Biden after the second scheduled debate between the two was cancelled.

Ms Harris has cancelled all campaign travel until Monday (AEDT) “out of an abundance of caution” after her communications director Liz Allen and a crew member on her plane tested positive, Mr Biden’s campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said.

“Senator Harris was not in close contact, as defined by the CDC, with either of these individuals during the two days prior to their positive tests; as such, there is no requirement for quarantine,” Ms O’Malley Dillon said.

She said neither infected person had any contact with Ms Harris or Mr Biden “or any other staffers since testing positive or in the 48 hours prior to their positive test results.”

The 55-year-old Californian senator, who spent this week in senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Barrett, was due to campaign in North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the days ahead.

US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris. Picture: AFP

Ms Harris said she was experiencing no symptoms of coronavirus but was being tested and “will be transparent with you about any test results that I do receive”.

“In the meantime, remember: wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands regularly. It is possible to stop the spread,” she added.

It is the first outbreak of coronavirus to hit the senior levels of the Biden-Harris campaign. By contract, the Trump campaign, which is far less cautious about social distancing and facemarks, has been hit with a raft of infections up to and including the president.

Those in Trump’s inner circle who have tested positive in recent weeks include his wife and son, Melania and Barron Trump, campaign manager Bill Stepien, Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and close advisers Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, Stephen Miller and Chris Christie.

Mr Biden is due to hold a town hall meeting in Philadelphia at 11am (AEDT). At the same time, Mr Trump will hold one in Miami. Both events will be screened live on different networks.

The second presidential debate was due to be held today but was cancelled after the president refused to accept a decision by the Commission of Presidential Debates that it would be a virtual rather than an in-person debate.

A final debate is scheduled between Mr Trump and Mr Biden in Nashville next Friday (AEDT) and is expected to be conducted in person.

Mr Biden extended his lead over Mr Trump in the polls after the first presidential debate in Cleveland last month in which the president was seen by many as overly-aggressive.

President Donald Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again rally at the Pitt-Greenville Airport earlier today. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Trump defended his conduct on Friday, saying “some people said I was rude, but you have to be rude. The guy’s a liar”.

Mr Biden said he believed the president would be even more aggressive towards him in the final weeks of the campaign.

“We’ve got 19 days left and you know he’s going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me,” Mr Biden said. “And it’s going to be an overwhelming torrent of lies and distortions.”

It comes as more than 15 million Americans have already cast their ballots for the November 3 election, a far larger number than usual.

Mr Biden currently leads Mr Trump in polls by 9.2 points nationally.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia