US President, Joe Biden is doing well in isolation in the White House after testing positive for COVIDd-19, report on Thursday, July 21, 2022 suggested.
The 79-year-old, who is fully-vaccinated and twice received booster jabs, is experiencing “very mild symptoms” and will continue to carry out all his duties, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre’s statement also added that the President is taking the antiviral medicine Paxlovid.
In a tweet, Mr. Biden noted that he is “doing great” and “keeping busy”. His wife, the First Lady, Jill Biden however said she tested the opposite after taking her test.
The White House Press Briefing
Consistent with White House protocol, the President will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative, Jean-Pierre said, and Mr. Biden will continue to take part in meetings via telephone and Zoom.
White House Covid Coordinator, Dr Ashish Jha, in a statement said the President is tired, with a runny nose and dry cough. He said Mr. Biden went to bed feeling fine but did not sleep well and then tested positive on Thursday, July 21, 2022, morning.
The Press Secretary is expected to hold a press briefing alongside Dr Jha at 14:00 ET (19:00 BST).
The White House medical unit will inform all close contacts of the President during the day, Jean-Pierre said, including any members of Congress or members of the press who were with Mr. Biden during his visit to Massachusetts on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. First Lady, Mrs. Biden said she spoke to her husband and he is “doing fine”, adding that “He’s feeling good. I tested negative this morning. I’m going to keep my schedule. According to CDC guidelines, I’m keeping masked”.
The Oldest President so Far
Mr. Biden, who is the oldest President in US history and turns 80 this year, last tested negative for Covid on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, the White House said.
In a memo to Press Secretary Jean-Pierre, Mr. Biden’s Physician, Kevin O’Connor said he believes the President would respond favourably due to being fully vaccinated and twice boosted, adding that the early use of Paxlovid provided “additional protection against severe disease”. Mr. Biden was judged “fit for duty” and described as “healthy” and “vigorous” by Dr. O’Connor during his last physical examination in November 2021.
The Vice-President
US Vice President, Kamala Harris, is in North Carolina for an abortion rights event and is expected to speak later.
Should Mr. Biden become unable to carry out his duties due to illness she would be given Presidential Powers. This happened briefly in November last year (2021) when Mr. Biden was put under general anaesthetic during a regular health check.
Mr. Biden is not the first US President to suffer Covid after his predecessor, Donald Trump, was taken to the hospital after contracting the virus in October 2020 while serving in office.
There have been 89.7 million Covid cases in the US and more than one million deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The US has seen a rebound in cases, which are up by more than 25% in the last month (June 2022), according to CDC data.
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