US President and Democrats presumed nominee Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House has confirmed. Biden was on a campaign trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday when he started experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test result of the 81-year-old Democrat, and added that he won’t be able to speak at a scheduled event due to the diagnosis of COVID-19. “He is vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms,” Karine Jean-Pierre said, as reported by Reuters. President Biden will be returning to Delaware after the positive result of coronavirus and will continue to carry out all his duties. President Biden is vaccinated, boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test. 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. A note from @POTUS' Doctor:… — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 17, 2024 Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's physician said in a statement that Biden “presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise,” according to Associated Press. According to the White House press release, President Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and he has already taken its first dose. "Biden’s respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97%," the release added. President Biden has been facing the flak in the past over his health issues as he is determined to contest the upcoming US elections in November against Republican nominee Donald Trump. With US elections around the corner, President Biden’s health concerns have been a major headache for the Democrats party and the 81-year-old has declined to step down. Though in a recent interview quoted by the New York Times, Biden’s stance towards the race shifted and he agreed that "if some medical condition emerged", he would drop out of the presidential run for reelection.
