Newsman: President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House confirmed Wednesday. It is unknown what variant Biden has, but there have been recent projections of the latest variants across the U.S. The president first tested positive for Covid-19 in July 2022 and suffered a second, so-called rebound case in the days after. Biden, 81, was experiencing mild symptoms and has received his first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid, according to his doctor.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president is vaccinated and boosted. President and is experiencing mild symptoms prompting an array of questions about his health and condition.
The president will self-isolate there in line with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
“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,” she said. “The White House will provide regular updates on the president’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
In an update Thursday Biden’s doctor said the president does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal.
In a previous note distributed by the White House, Mr. Biden’s doctor said the president had mild upper respiratory symptoms Wednesday afternoon, including a runny nose and a “non-productive cough.”
The doctor said Mr. Biden’s respiratory rate, temperature and pulse oximetry were all normal at the time.
Biden “felt okay” for his first event in Nevada but was tested for COVID after not feeling better, the note added.
Several top Biden administration officials have also tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, including second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
On Thursday, Dr. Jill Biden’s press secretary Vanessa Valdivia said in a statement that “the First Lady is tested as determined appropriate by her doctor. She is not symptomatic and up to date with her vaccines. She is currently in Rehoboth.”
It’s unclear where and when the president contracted Covid-19. But the sudden diagnosis will place him behind closed doors at a time when Democratic lawmakers have been clamoring to see him out front.
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