Biden tests positive for Covid, has mild symptoms

US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday (Jul 21) and is experiencing mild symptoms, said a White House statement.

Biden, 79, has begun taking Pfizer’s Paxlovid treatment for the disease, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, and will isolate at the White House while continuing his duties.

“He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence,” Jean-Pierre said in the statement.

The president returned this week from a trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel, and travelled on Wednesday to Massachusetts to promote executive actions he was undertaking to address climate change. 

He had planned to travel to Pennsylvania on Thursday for a speech on gun safety and crime and a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.

Biden is fully vaccinated, and has received 2 booster shots. Jean-Pierre said the White House will provide a daily update on Biden’s condition until he recovers, and that the White House Medical Unit “will inform all close contacts of the president during the day today, including any Members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the president during yesterday’s travel”.

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First Lady Jill Biden tested negative for Covid, her spokesperson said. BLOOMBERG