President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, forcing him to cancel a previously scheduled address at the UnidosUS annual conference.
A statement from press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, confirmed that Biden presented moderate symptoms, including a runny nose, dry cough, and general malaise. Those symptoms did not develop until after Biden’s initial event of the day, per O’Connor.
“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 wrote in a statement.
She continued, “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.”
The announcement was first made by UNIDOS CEO Janet Murguia roughly 90 minutes after the president was slated to speak at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
“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,” Murguia stated, drawing disappointed noises from the crowd. “The president has been at many events as we all know, and he just tested positive for COVID. So of course we understand that he needs to take the precautions that have been recommended, and he did not obviously want to put anybody at risk.”
Wednesday’s news marks the second time Biden has contracted COVID-19 as president.
Earlier on Wednesday, the president sat for a taped interview with Univision, marking his third such interview this week.
The president has already received one dose of the coronavirus therapeutic Paxlovid and plans to self-isolate for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended period at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home.
“Good. I feel good,” Biden told reporters on the tarmac before boarding Air Force One for Delaware.
“The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus,” O’Connor added in his accompanying note.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals,” O’Connor continued. “PCR confirmation testing will be pending. 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 President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth.”
The president is facing a small but steady chorus of calls from Democrats to step aside and make way for a new Democratic nominee in 2024. Biden’s diagnosis comes after he said during an interview released earlier Wednesday with BET that he would consider exiting the race if advised by his doctors following the diagnosis of a new medical condition that makes campaigning impossible.
