President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the president, who was delivering a speech in Las Vegas, was “experiencing mild symptoms.”
Jean-Pierre said Biden “will return to Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to fully perform all his duties during this period.”
She noted that Biden has been vaccinated and is stepping up his vaccinations.
On July 17, 2024, US President Biden walked towards Air Force One at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Tom Brenner | Reuters
“The White House will provide regular updates on the President’s condition as he continues to carry out the full responsibilities of the office while in isolation,” she said.
According to White House sources, Biden boarded Air Force One in Las Vegas around 6:30 p.m. ET. The president did not wear a mask when boarding the plane.
“Great, I feel great,” Biden said on the airport tarmac in response to shouted questions from reporters.
Biden’s doctor said the president developed a runny nose and a “dry cough” on Wednesday afternoon.
“He felt fine during his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, a COVID-19 point-of-care test was performed and the result was positive for the COVID-19 virus,” the doctor said in a statement. The White House Statement to share.
Doctors said Biden’s symptoms “remain mild,” his body temperature and respiratory rate were normal, and his pulse oximeter reading was 97%.
“The president has received the first dose of Paxlovid,” the doctor said. “He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth.”
When asked for comment, the Biden campaign referred CNBC to the White House.
Biden is scheduled to speak at the UnidosUS annual conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, following an interview with Univision at the Original Lindo Michoácan restaurant.
Photos show Biden shaking hands with customers at a restaurant.
On July 17, 2024, US President Joe Biden shook hands with a person at the Lindo Michoacan Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Tom Brenner | Reuters
But Biden did not speak at the scheduled 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Just after 6 p.m. ET, UnidosUS President Janet Murguia announced to the crowd that Biden had tested positive for the virus.
“Sadly, I just spoke with President Biden on the phone and he expressed deep disappointment that he was unable to join us this afternoon,” she said. “As we all know, the president attends a lot of events, but he just tested positive for COVID-19.”
“He said he was going to tell my family that we weren’t going to get rid of him that quickly,” she added. “He was really sorry he couldn’t be with us.”
The illness comes as the 81-year-old Biden faces growing pressure from fellow Democrats to drop out of the presidential race against Republican nominee Donald Trump.
A growing number of Democratic lawmakers, as well as top donors and other allies, are urging Biden to step down as his disastrous debate performance stoked fears about his fitness to run.
Biden has repeatedly rejected those calls and defended his physical and mental health.
But Biden said in an interview with BET on Tuesday that he might reconsider his decision to stay in the race if a “health situation” arises.
Biden previously tested positive for the new coronavirus in July 2022.
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