President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of his scheduled speech at the UnidosUS annual conference and stirring debates over his continued leadership.
This development marks the second time President Biden has contracted the virus during his presidency.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, exhibited moderate symptoms including a runny nose, a dry cough, and general malaise.
“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,” Jean-Pierre stated in a press release.
“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,” Jean-Pierre added.
The President has since begun taking Paxlovid and plans to follow CDC guidelines for isolation at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware.
The news of Biden’s illness was first publicly announced by Janet Murguía, CEO of UnidosUS, approximately 90 minutes after Biden was scheduled to speak.
“Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding. 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,” Murguía told the crowd.
Adding to the president’s health concerns, Biden told BET in an interview earlier that day that he would consider stepping down from the 2024 presidential race if he were diagnosed with a medical condition that made campaigning unfeasible.
This statement comes amid a growing chorus of voices within the Democratic Party suggesting it might be time for new leadership.
President Biden assured the public and his supporters that he feels “good,” as he boarded Air Force One for Delaware. His medical team reports that while his symptoms remain mild, he will continue with PCR testing and remain under close observation.
Updates on Biden’s health will be provided as he follows isolation protocols, maintaining his presidential duties remotely.