Posing a blow to his campaign at a decisive time, US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday. A statement by the White House said the President is experiencing mild symptoms.
"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," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
"Biden 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," she 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 President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth," the White House said.
The President's physician Dr Kevin O'Connor said that Biden "presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise".
"The president 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," he said.
"Given this, the president will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending," the doctor said.
However, the diagnosis comes at a pivotal time for the President, who was supposed to attend a key campaign event aimed at wooing Latino voters. Though Biden told reporters that "he feels good" before boarding Air Force One to head to his Delaware residence on Wednesday, this has cast a shadow over his reelection bid, which has been teetering ever since his disastrous debate performance.
Biden's Covid diagnosis will raise concerns about his age, health and stamina, that too amid calls from many Democrats to step aside as the party’s presidential nominee. "The timing of this could not possibly be worse," a Democrat briefed on internal White House discussions told US-based Politico. "It reminds everybody how old Joe Biden is."
The President being ill for the second time in three weeks also puts the spotlight on the GOP campaign, which is going stronger ever since Presidential nominee Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt,
While Trump paints a picture of strength, rallying supporters with chants of “Fight! Fight! Fight!," after taking a bullet hit, Biden's image is that of an aging, stiff-gaited, low-talking person.
