NewsNigeriaPoliticsPresident Joe Biden Diagnosed with COVID-19, in Isolation

The White House announced yesterday that President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the 79-year-old president is experiencing “mild symptoms” and has begun taking medication.

The statement read in part: “Earlier today (yesterday) 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.”

The statement added a note from Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the President’s physician, which noted that Biden, 81, was “presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.”

A COVID-19 virus test was run which came out positive. Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, O’Connor said.

“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 doctor added.

The White House said the President will continue to carry out his duties while in isolation.

The news comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a global surge in COVID-19 cases.

Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.