President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, marking the third time in the past two years the president has tested positive for the virus.
The White House on Wednesday said Biden was “experiencing mild symptoms” and would return to Delaware to self-isolate and "carry out all of his duties fully during that time." He received his first dose of Paxlovid, an antiviral therapy produced by Pfizer.
Earlier in the afternoon, Biden experienced upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and nonproductive cough, his doctor said in a statement.
"He felt OK for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus," the doctor added. The White House noted Biden is vaccinated and boosted.
Biden, 81, first tested positive for COVID in July 2022, after which he isolated at the White House and began taking Paxlovid.
After completing a five-day course of the antiviral medication and experiencing only mild symptoms, Biden emerged from isolation just to test positive with a "rebound" case of COVID-19, which lasted one week until Aug. 15.
Biden on Wednesday was slated to speak at a conference in Las Vegas, but UnidosUS President Janet Murguía announced on stage the president tested positive and would no longer be speaking.
Biden's doctor said PCR confirmation testing is pending. His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97 percent, the doctor said.
Biden was seen boarding Air Force One, not wearing a mask, and told reporters he feels "good."
