Washington — President Joe Biden told reporters late Wednesday that he was “doing well,” hours after testing positive for COVID-19. The White House announced his positive test earlier this evening. He abruptly canceled a Las Vegas speech where he planned to appeal to Latino voters.
The 81-year-old president tested positive after his first event in Las Vegas on Wednesday. He is experiencing mild symptoms, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. He is vaccinated and boosted against the virus and will return to his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, to self-isolate. #BidenCOVIDpositive
“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,” she said.
The president of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino nonprofit advocacy organization, first announced the news.
“Regrettably I was just on the phone with President Biden,” UnidosUS President Janet Murguía told the crowd gathered in a Las Vegas ballroom to hear the president. “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. So, of course, we understand that he needs to take the precautions that have been recommended, and he did not obviously want to put anybody at risk.”
Transitioning to the campaign impact, Biden’s positive test results force a significant change. Many highly anticipated the Nevada event, and its cancellation affects the campaign’s momentum. Nevertheless, the Biden COVID positive situation reminds everyone of the ongoing pandemic challenges.
The president’s health remains a top priority. #BidenCOVIDpositive news has caused concerns, but his administration is prepared to handle the situation.
