President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced Wednesday evening.
Biden is “experiencing mild symptoms” and “will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The president experienced upper respiratory symptoms, a runny nose and a cough before receiving a COVID-19 test, according to the White House. Biden plans to isolate in Delaware and received his first dose of Paxlovid.
“The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus,” his doctor said in a statement.
The doctor added that PCR confirmation testing will be pending, Biden’s symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97 percent.
The president was expected to speak at a conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, but UnidosUS President Janet Murguía came out on stage to tell the audience waiting for him that he tested positive.
“Regrettably, 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,” she said.
