Biden tests positive for COVID-19, cancels Las Vegas appearance
President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. The White House provided an update on the President's health, indicating that his illness is expected to be mild.
Biden tested positive in Las Vegas, where he was due to speak at the annual UnidosUS conference.
The President's physician reported that Biden has received his first dose of Paxlovid and will be isolating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in line with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
"The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise," read a statement from Biden's doctor, conveyed by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Given that the President reported feeling unwell, it was decided to conduct a COVID-19 test, which returned positive.
White House statement
"President Biden is vaccinated, boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time," conveys a statement issued by the White House.
"I feel good," said Joe Biden, confirming his words with a thumbs-up before boarding Air Force One.
The president did not attend the conference
The White House released a statement after UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía announced Biden's illness. Biden did not attend his scheduled appearance.
"I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid," said Murguía to conference attendees, who had been waiting for an hour and a half for the President's appearance.
This is the 81-year-old President's second infection with the virus. The first time Biden contracted the illness was in July 2022. According to the White House, Biden also recently struggled with a cold, which was cited as one reason for his poor performance in the June debate with Donald Trump.
