According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 after undergoing testing in Las Vegas, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech. The speech was cancelled due to his diagnosis.

Jean-Pierre stated that Biden is “vaccinated and boosted” and is experiencing mild symptoms, including upper respiratory symptoms, general malaise, rhinorrhea (runny nose), and non-productive cough.

Despite his diagnosis, Biden appeared to be in good spirits as he boarded Air Force One to depart Las Vegas. When asked how he was feeling, Biden replied, “Good, I feel good.” However, he was seen holding the railing tightly and pausing a few steps while climbing the stairs.

The White House said that Biden will be self-isolating in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines and will continue to carry out his duties during this time. He has received an initial dose of Paxlovid, an antiviral medication used to treat COVID-19.

This is not Biden’s first bout with COVID-19. In July 2022, he tested positive for the virus and experienced mild symptoms. He recovered and then tested positive again with a rebound case, but was finally cleared on August 7.

Biden’s diagnosis comes at a time when he faces pressure from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign, with some questioning his ability to serve due to his age. Despite this, Biden has shown no indication that he plans to withdraw from the race.

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