United States President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, compelling him to cancel a campaign event in Las Vegas, amid increasing pressure for him to reconsider his re-election bid due to his age.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden, 81, is experiencing “mild symptoms” and will fly to his Delaware home to “self-isolate and continue to carry out all of his duties fully”.
“Biden planned to spend a long weekend at his Delaware beach house,” Jean-Pierre added. The duration of his absence from the campaign trail remains uncertain.
After the announcement, President Biden’s motorcade swiftly departed for the Las Vegas airport. Boarding Air Force One, he assured reporters, “Good, I feel good.”
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician, detailed the president’s symptoms in a note: “Biden presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea [runny nose] and non-productive cough, with general malaise.”
Following the positive COVID-19 test result, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has already taken the initial dose, as confirmed by O’Connor.
The news of Biden’s illness initially came from Janet Murguia, CEO of Unidos US, at a Las Vegas convention. Biden was scheduled to address the group’s convention on Wednesday afternoon to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election.
Murguia relayed Biden’s message to attendees, stating, “He said to tell my folks that we’re not going to get rid of him that quickly. We’re going to have a chance to hear from him in the future directly.”
The announcement was met with disappointment in the conference room, evident from the collective groans heard.
