PRESIDENT Joe Biden, 81, has tested positive for Covid-19 just hours after he said he’d only consider dropping out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition that prevented his run.
He was more than an hour and a half late for a scheduled appearance at the annual UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday before the organization announced his diagnosis.
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Janet Murguía, the CEO of UnidosUs took the podium in his absence and announced that he wouldn’t be speaking as he was just diagnosed with the virus.
UnidosUs is a Latino civil rights organization in the battleground state of Nevada.
“I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid,” Murguía told attendees.
“We appreciate very much his wanting to be here – I had a great introduction reminding us of all the actions he’s taken for our community,” she told the audience.
The White House later released a statement confirming the president’s diagnosis.
“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,” the statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre read.
“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 statement included a note from Biden’s doctor which explained that he was experiencing upper respiratory symptoms this afternoon including a runny nose, cough, and mucous.
Biden attended an earlier event on Wednesday where he was pictured greeting supporters in a restaurant.
His doctor said he felt okay at the start of the day, but after the symptoms did not disappear, the president was advised to take a test for Covid-19.
His doctor added that Biden would continue to self-isolate with CDEC guidance.
Biden’s respiratory rate and temperature remain normal. He has received a dose of Paxlovid.
Paxlovid is a popular medication used to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL INTERRUPTION
The news comes as the president has been traveling for speaking engagements as part of his re-election campaign.
Biden sat down with BET News this week for an interview, revealing that he would re-evaluate his decision to run for re-election if he had a medical issue.
When asked what it would take to re-consider his run, Biden responded, “If I had some medical condition that emerged.”
Biden then clarified, “If doctors came to me and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.’”
The comments come as Biden has stood firm on his decision to continue the campaign.
During an interview with George Stephanopoulos, he said that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to drop out.
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