US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is currently facing "mild symptoms," as confirmed by the White House on Thursday.
“Earlier today, following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Biden is expected to return to Delaware and enter self-isolation while maintaining all of his responsibilities during that period. The White House will provide regular updates on the president's condition as he fulfills the complete responsibilities of the office while in isolation, she added.
The president had plans to address the Unidos event in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon.
“His 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%. The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth,” the White House said.
The president's physician, Dr Kevin O'Connor, said that Biden "presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise".
The president felt fine for his initial appointment of the day, but since he didn't feel any improvement, a COVID-19 point-of-care test was performed, and it revealed that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, he informed.
“Given this, the president will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending,” the doctor said.
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