Photo Credit: Drew Angerer via Getty Images
The White House announced that U.S President Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19.
The President’s Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, announced that the president is experiencing “only” mild symptoms from the infection. The 79-year-old chief executive is fully vaccinated and has already received two booster shots from the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine to protect him from complications should events as this happen.
Read the official statement of the White House below:
This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms. He has begun taking Paxlovid. Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.
He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.
Consistent with White House protocol for positive COVID cases, which goes above and beyond CDC guidance, he will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative. Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work.
“Folks, I’m doing great. Thanks for your concern,” says a caption from the president’s Twitter account with a photo of him. He wants to assure the Americans that he Is doing well despite his infection and that he will continue doing his job as the country’s top official.
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Biden also posted a video of him, this time standing on the White House balcony. He said, “Keep the faith, it’s going to be okay.”
The president is taking a pill from Pfizer to help keep him healthy and out of the hospital. This antiviral medication Paxlovid will prevent complications that can arise with Covid-19 positive patients.
President Biden has been experiencing symptoms of dry cough, runny nose and fatigue. The physician at the White House says that these are typical signs of Covid-19, which he contracted recently. However, O’Connor said to the press, “I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do.”
The First Lady, Jill Biden, also said that the president is “feeling good” amid the symptoms he is currently experiencing.
“I talked to him just a few minutes ago, he’s doing fine,” the first lady added. After the president tested positive for the virus, Jill was tested, and fortunately, she came out negative.
The president is currently isolated, and all meetings have been postponed until an authorized medical official declares him Covid-free. He will continue working with other matters of state while undergoing this procedure, but for now, it’s unclear when he’ll be out of quarantine or how long his recovery might take.
The official statement from the White House added:
Out of an abundance of transparency, the White House will provide a daily update on the president’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.
Per standard protocol for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will inform all close contacts of the president during the day today, including any Members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the president during yesterday’s travel. The president’s last previous test for COVID was Tuesday when he had a negative test result.
Before testing positive
President Joe Biden went to Massachusetts for an event addressing climate change last week. He was joined by lawmakers and officials, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Market, as well as Gina McCarthy and John Kerry.
It is unclear whether or not the people with Biden during this event can be considered close contact under the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: CNN
