President Biden Tests Positive for COVID-19
President Biden walks across the tarmac at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York after attending the United Nations General Assembly in September of 2021 (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography).
Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, released a statement on Thursday reporting the President had tested positive for COVID-19. In the wake of his diagnosis, all of Biden's travel plans and events were canceled including his speech in Pennsylvania, planned to begin just hours after the White House reported his diagnosis. It is unknown if the administration will reschedule any of the events after he has completed his five-day isolation and has tested negative for COVID-19.
Article by Georgia Simon, Associate White House Reporter
WASHINGTON - On Thursday, July 21, 2022, President Biden, 79, tested positive for COVID-19, confirmed with an antigen and PCR test. The President is fully vaccinated and double boosted.
In accordance with CDC guidelines, Biden is isolated and has resumed all duties virtually via Zoom and phone calls. The President’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said that Biden's symptoms are mild and include a runny nose, fatigue, and “an occasional dry cough.”
While in Detroit, Michigan on the 21st, Dr. Jill Biden tested negative. She intends to keep her full schedule for the upcoming weeks while also following CDC guidelines.
President and Dr. Biden traveled on Wednesday to Somerset, Massachusetts, where he “announced Executive steps,” to help fight climate change, according to CNBC. Members of Congress attended, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass). Warren says she has no symptoms as of right now but is testing in an act of caution.
Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative as of Thursday morning. Harris already contracted COVID-19 in April of 2022. She will also continue her schedule as planned in North Carolina while continuing to wear a face mask and following advice from the White House medical team as well as the CDC.
Before testing positive, the President planned to speak in Pennsylvania on Thursday about gun violence and then travel after the speech to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, to meet the First Lady for the weekend. All of these trips are now officially canceled.
It is unknown how or where the President was infected. He has now started a round of Paxlovid. Paxlovid is an antiviral drug that is successful in limiting severe symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths from the Coronavirus. Dr. O’Conner prescribed this to the president in the wake of the positive test and symptoms.
“I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do,” said O’Connor.
“Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). They should wear a mask around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days,” states the CDC guidance.
As Biden was preparing for his speech in Pennsylvania, he was also scheduled to visit Orlando and Tampa, Florida on Monday, July 25th. In Orlando, he was supposed to speak with The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Later that day, he was to deliver a speech at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) rally in Tampa.
The White House has announced that all travel for the President is canceled for a minimum of five days. This time frame overlapped with the Florida trip, forcing the White House to cancel. It is still unknown whether the White House will reschedule.
Karine Jean-Pierre, Bidens Press Secretary and Dr. Ashish Jha, White House coronavirus coordinator, had a press conference later on Thursday afternoon. Together, they answered questions on Biden’s health, contact tracing and upcoming protocol.
Jean-Pierre and Dr. Jha used this briefing to once again explain the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted. Anyone over fifty-years of age is eligible for a second booster shot. Dr. Jha emphasized the importance and encouraged all eligible adults to receive another shot, as the most contagious strain of COVID-19 is almost eighty-percent of all cases identified in the United States.
“Because the President is fully vaccinated, double boosted, his risk of serious illness is dramatically lower. He’s also getting treated with a very powerful antiviral and that further reduces his risk of serious illness,” said Dr. Jha.
The President's COVID-19 sample was sent to a lab in hopes of identifying the specific variant. Results are expected in less than seven days. “The President has mild symptoms,” said Jean-Pierre. “He’s able to do the business of the American people from the residence and that's what matters right now.”
Chief White House Correspondent Emily Barkann contributed edits.