President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday while in Las Vegas, the White House said.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden tested positive “following his first event in Las Vegas.”
“He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre said. “He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The White House will provide regular updates on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
Biden was tested for Covid after experiencing upper respiratory symptoms, according to a statement by Biden’s doctor released by the White House. Dr. Kevin O’Connor is the president’s physician, though the White House did not attribute the statement to him by name.
The president’s symptoms included a runny nose, nonproductive cough and “general malaise,” the statement said.
His doctor said that he has already taken his first dose of Paxlovid, a medication that is associated with reducing the chance of hospitalization or death.
Biden does not have a fever, and his respiratory rate is normal, according to the president’s doctor.
When Biden later arrived at the Las Vegas-area airport, the president responded to a question about how he was feeling by saying, “Good, I feel good.”
Biden, 81, has kept a full schedule in Nevada this week, following questions about his health and capabilities after a dismal debate performance in late June.
Both Biden and former President Donald Trump, 78, have had Covid. Biden last tested positive in 2022.
News of his Covid test was first announced by a conference leader where the president was scheduled to speak Wednesday.
“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,” said Janet Murguia, president of UnidosUS, which bills itself as the largest Latino advocacy organization in U.S.
Biden had been expected to deliver remarks at the group’s event in Las Vegas and had been about an hour and a half late before the announcement was made.
Biden said during an interview with BET on Tuesday that he would drop out of the presidential race if he developed a medical condition that prevented him from running.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in March that people who test positive for Covid no longer need to isolate for five days.
The CDC’s latest guidance recommends that people who test positive stay home and away from others, noting that people can resume normal activity after symptoms are improving and there is no fever without “fever-reducing medication” for at least 24 hours.
After resuming regular activities, the CDC encourages people to still wear a mask and maintain distance from others for five days.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Tara Prindiville and Rebecca Shabad contributed.
