President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the White House announced.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden tested positive “after his first event in Las Vegas.”
“The president has received both his vaccination and booster doses and is experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre said. “The president has returned to Delaware and is self-isolating, during which time he will continue to fulfill his duties. The White House will provide regular updates on the president’s status as he remains in quarantine and fully functional.”
Biden was tested for COVID-19 after experiencing upper respiratory symptoms, according to a statement from Biden’s physician released by the White House. The president’s physician is Dr. Kevin O’Connor, though the White House did not name Dr. O’Connor in its statement.
The president’s symptoms included a runny nose, a dry cough and “general fatigue,” according to the statement.
Doctors said he has already received his first dose of Paxlobidi, a drug believed to reduce the chance of hospitalization or death.
Biden, 81, played a full schedule in Nevada this week after a disastrous debate performance in late June that raised questions about his health and fitness. He last tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022.
News that the president had undergone a COVID-19 test was first announced by leaders of the conference, which he was scheduled to address on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, I was just on the phone with President Biden and he expressed his deep disappointment that he will not be able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at a number of events as we all know, and he has tested positive for COVID-19,” said Jeanette Murguía, president of Unidos US, which describes itself as the largest Latino advocacy group in the country.
Biden had been scheduled to speak at the group’s event in Las Vegas but was delayed about an hour and a half before the announcement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
