Biden tests positive for covid, cancels events amid mild symptoms

LAS VEGAS — President Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing mild symptoms, including a cough, runny nose and “general malaise,” the White House said Wednesday.

Biden has canceled his planned events in Las Vegas and has departed en route to Delaware. He plans to isolate there while continuing to work, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” she said. “The White House will provide regular updates on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”

Relaying a statement from Biden’s doctor, the White House said that the president’s symptoms began Wednesday afternoon.

“He felt okay 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 statement said, adding that Biden’s vitals appeared normal.

Biden has taken his first dose of Paxlovid, the doctor said.

“I feel good,” Biden told reporters before boarding Air Force One. He was not wearing a mask.

Biden had been scheduled to speak Wednesday at a conference for UnidosUS, a leading Hispanic civil rights group.

The speech was set to begin at 1:30 p.m. local time, but Biden had been running more than an hour late when the group’s president, Janet Murguía, told attendees he had called to say he would not be able to make it.

Biden also had to cancel a planned campaign stop scheduled for later Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Biden had visited a local restaurant to tape an interview with Univision.

Biden, who previously tested positive for covid in July 2022 and experienced mild symptoms, was seen taking selfies with patrons before the interview.

His illness Wednesday comes as a covid summer wave washes over much of the United States. Coronavirus levels in wastewater were considered high or very high in 26 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last Thursday.

The CDC no longer collects comprehensive covid hospital admissions data. But the virus is becoming more prevalent in emergency departments, with the percentage of visits involving covid cases rising in recent weeks to 1.5 percent, the highest since February.

The bulk of new cases are caused by new variants, known as FLiRT and LB.1. The new variants are more effective than their predecessors at infecting people who have some immunity from previous infections or vaccination.

The CDC now advises people with covid to isolate until their overall symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. The agency also advises precautions such as wearing masks and improving air circulation for an additional five days.

The Biden administration ended the public health emergency declaration for covid in May 2023 and has since rolled back efforts to contain transmission, including its free program of coronavirus tests by mail. Federal health authorities have prioritized vaccination as a way to prevent the worst outcomes of infections, now rolling out updated coronavirus vaccines in the fall alongside flu shots as part of a respiratory virus vaccination campaign.

But as Biden’s case shows, coronavirus is not a strictly seasonal pathogen and causes periodic upticks throughout the year. It no longer overwhelms hospitals, but can cause more strain in fall and winter months when hospitals also confront rising flu and RSV cases. Covid is still one of the leading causes of death by infectious diseases and can cause lasting complications known as long covid, even in people who had mild cases.