'I feel good': Joe Biden cancels campaign events after testing positive for Covid

While the race to the White House intensifies, US President Joe Biden cancelled his upcoming campaign events after testing positive for COVID-19. Just minutes before he was due to address a conference in Las Vegas, the POTUS took to X, formally known as Twitter, to share the news.

In his post, the 81-year-old American Commander-in-Chief mentioned that he is facing mild symptoms and has received his first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement about the matter, in which she made it clear that the president is vaccinated and boosted.

“I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes,” the president wrote on X. “I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people,” he furthered.

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I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes. 
 
I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.

— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) July 17, 2024

The news came at a crucial stage

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According to Biden’s aide, the president tested positive moments before he was about to address the UnidosUS annual conference in Nevada. After a long delay, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía told attendees that the president wouldn’t take the podium, followed by an audible gasp, CNN reported.

“I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid,” Murguía told the gathering.

It is still unclear exactly when and where the president contracted Covid. Biden’s diagnosis came at a time when he was facing severe pressure to quit his re-election bid.

There have been growing concerns within and outside the Democratic Party over Biden’s age and mental acuity. The pressure to quit the race became even more intense after the president’s deplorable performance in the recent presidential debate against his Republican rival and former President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, the California congressman and Senate candidate Adam Schiff became one of the most high-profile Democratic leaders to call for Biden to quit his campaign. Shortly after this, ABC News reported that Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader and a staunch ally of the president, told Biden to end his presidential campaign.

‘I feel good’: Biden

After the news of his testing positive stirred headlines, Biden was seen walking very slowly up the steps of Air Force One in Las Vegas. ‘I feel good,’ he said as he flashed a thumbs-up before boarding the aircraft.

In her statement, Jean-Pierre said that the president’s doctor found that Biden had a runny nose, a non-productive cough and “general malaise”.

“Given this, the president will be self-isolating in accordance with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending. His symptoms remain mild … [He] has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth  [Delaware]," she added.

It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time Biden had Covid. He contracted the deadly virus back in 2022.

With inputs from agencies.