Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday night in Washington just before he was scheduled to accompany U.S. President Joe Biden for St. Patrick's Day events at the White House.

Martin had been at an Irish gala event on Wednesday night, held at the National Building Museum in Washington. US President Joe Biden spoke at the event, but a White House official said he did not have close contact with Martin during the function.

However, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and singer Carole King were seated close to Martin.

CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan, who was at the event, tweeted that Ireland's ambassador to the United States, Dan Mulhall, announced to the crowd that Martin had tested positive and had to leave the event.

Biden attaches great importance to his Irish roots and spoke of strong U.S.-Ireland relations in his address at the event.

Ironically, Martin’s positive test came a day after Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, tested positive on account of which she had to cancel a breakfast event with the Irish Prime Minister.