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“Well, I think if you still have Covid, we shouldn’t have a debate,” Biden told reporters in Maryland. “I think we will have to follow very strict guidelines. Too many people have been infected and it is a very serious problem.”
He continued, “So I’ll be guided by the Cleveland Clinic guidelines, and what the doctors say is the right thing to do, as long as it comes up for discussion.”
The former vice president also said he looks forward to the debate, which will take place next Thursday in Miami.
“I’m looking forward to discussing it. But I just hope all the protocols are followed, which is necessary at that time,” he said.
The president tested positive last Thursday, but it is unclear when he may have contracted the virus, as officials, including his physician, Dr. Sean Conley, have repeatedly refused to reveal when he last tested negative.
Trump has said that he plans to appear for upcoming debates despite his positive coronavirus diagnosis, prompting debate organizers to consider a number of contingencies on how to safely conduct the remaining two presidential debates. One possible option is to hold the discussions virtually.
“The Commission, including myself, is certainly open to virtual operations of the debates, without a doubt,” said a member of the commission, who requested anonymity to speak openly about the upcoming deliberations.
Trump’s fight with the virus has brought new uncertainty to the race with less than a month until Election Day, raising questions about the president’s health as voters vote in some states.
Conley insisted Monday that Trump was well enough to return home, although he noted that the president “may not be completely out of the woods just yet.”
Meanwhile, Biden blamed Trump for contracting the virus, saying Monday that his refusal to wear masks consistently and social distancing were to blame.
“Anyone who gets the virus essentially saying, ‘Masks don’t matter, social distancing doesn’t matter,’ I think they are responsible for what happens to them,” Biden said of Trump during an NBC town hall in Miami.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Eric Bradner, Kevin Liptak and Maeve Reston contributed to this report.
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