President Biden tests positive for Covid-19, has mild symptoms

Chairperson Joe Biden The White House said on Thursday it had tested positive for Covid-19.

The 79-year-old president, who is fully vaccinated and has received two Covid booster shots, is experiencing “very mild symptoms,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Biden previously tested negative on Tuesday.

Biden has started taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug that can reduce the risk of hospitalization for people who test positive for Covid, the press secretary said.

The president’s symptoms include a dry cough, runny nose and fatigue, White House physician Kevin O’Connor said in a statement. Remember board. Those symptoms started Wednesday night, O’Connor said.

“I predict that he will respond favorably, like most maximally protected patients,” the doctor added.

First Lady Jill Biden told reporters in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday morning that her husband “feels good.”

“I spoke to him just a few minutes ago, he’s fine,” said Jill Biden. She is considered to have close contact with the president, but said she tested negative for Covid on Thursday and is following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, her office said. he said.

Mr. Jean-Pierre said Biden will work in isolation until he tests negative for the virus. He will remotely hold all scheduled meetings on Thursday.

Jean-Pierre will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. ET, along with the White House Covid response coordinator, Dr Ashish Jha.

Biden attended an event in Massachusetts on Wednesday to announce policies to combat climate change. Lawmakers and administration officials in attendance included Thanks Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, D-Mass., Climate Envoy John Kerry and climate adviser Gina McCarthy.

It is unclear if any of those officials are considered close ties to Biden under CDC guidelines.

At the time of the White House announcement, Vice President Kamala Harris, 57, was flying on Air Force 2 to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was scheduled to discuss the Biden administration’s investments in the internet. high-speed and met with state leaders, the office lady told NBC. NBC reports that a decision has not yet been made to change her schedule.

The First Lady said she plans to keep her schedule in Detroit, where she has planned visit public schools and discuss how federal funds are being used to address student mental health issues and Covid-related academic disruption.

Read the full statement from the White House:

This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He has been fully vaccinated and two boosters and has very mild symptoms. He has already started taking Paxlovid. Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will be in isolation at the White House and will continue to fully perform his duties in the meantime. He contacted members of the White House staff by phone this morning and will participate in his scheduled meetings at the White House this morning by phone and Zoom from his residence.

Following White House guidelines for positive COVID cases, which exceed CDC guidelines, he will continue to work in isolation until the test results are negative. Once the test is negative, he will return to work in person.

With abundant transparency, the White House will provide daily updates on the President’s status as he continues to fulfill the duties of the office while in isolation.

Following standard procedure for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will notify all close contacts of the President today, including any members of the public. of Congress and any members of the press who came in contact with the President during his visit yesterday. The President’s previous COVID test was on Tuesday, when he tested negative.

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