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US President Joe Biden this week tested positive for COVID-19. The White House said the US leader was only experiencing mild symptoms and is continuing to work in isolation.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and is only experiencing mild symptoms as the US leader is vaccinated and boosted. Biden is also taking the antiviral drug Paxvloid, which reduces the severity of the coronavirus.
Jean-Pierre said Biden is isolated at the White House residence and will continue his duties at that time.
“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,” said Jean-Pierre, who said in her statement that the White House will continue to provide updates on Biden’s status.
White House physician Kevin O’Connor also released a letter confirming that Biden is experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19. O’Connor added that he expects Biden to “respond favorably” to the antiviral drug as most patients who have been twice vaccinated and boosted do.
First lady Dr. Jill Biden has tested negative, according to her office. Dr. Biden is currently in Michigan for an event at a local school.
Several members of the Biden administration have previously tested positive for COVID-19. Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive back in April, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra tested positive in May, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Prior to testing positive for COVID-19, Biden was scheduled to visit Pennsylvania to unveil his proposal for Congress to authorize $37 billion in funding for crime prevention programs in an effort to address the issue ahead of the November midterm elections.
The US leader was expected to unveil the details of his Safer America Plan.
The $37 billion Biden is requesting is for the 2023 fiscal year budget, which starts on October 1. $13 billion would be spaced out in a span of five years to hire and train an additional 100,000 police officers, according to a White House fact sheet.
