WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden examined optimistic for COVID-19 Thursday, one thing the White Home had taken additional steps to keep away from as extremely transmissible strains struck prime aides, Cupboard members, the president’s chief medical adviser and the vice chairman.
Biden, 79, is experiencing “very gentle” signs and is taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated in an announcement.
Whereas Biden’s vaccinations ought to defend him towards severe sickness, the an infection is a blow to the administration’s efforts to point out the president is on prime of the pandemic that has disrupted the nation for greater than two years.
Biden will proceed to work on the White Home, the place he’ll isolate till he exams damaging, in keeping with Jean-Pierre. Every day updates on Biden’s situation shall be given throughout his isolation, she stated.
Biden had final been examined for COVID-19 on Tuesday, when his consequence was damaging, in keeping with Jean-Pierre.
First woman Jill Biden examined damaging
First woman Jill Biden, who’s touring, instructed reporters she spoke with the president Thursday morning.
“He is doing superb,” she stated. “He is feeling good.”
The primary woman examined damaging Thursday morning in Detroit and can proceed her full schedule in Michigan and Georgia, stated her spokesman, Michael LaRosa.
She is going to proceed following CDC pointers with masking and social distancing, LaRosa stated.
– Michael Collins
Biden’s signs
Biden’s signs embody a runny nostril, fatigue and an occasional dry cough, which began Wednesday night, in keeping with a letter launched by Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician.
O’Connor stated he anticipates Biden will reply favorably to Paxlovid, “as most maximally protected sufferers do.”
Biden’s current and upcoming journeys
Biden traveled Wednesday to Massachusetts, the place he introduced steps to fight local weather change.
He’d been scheduled to go to Pennsylvania on Thursday to speak about boosting legislation enforcement and lowering gun violence, in addition to to attend a fundraiser.
Biden returned Sunday from a four-day journey to Israel and Saudi Arabia, the place officers stated prematurely he would attempt to “decrease contact” due to the rise in COVID variants. Biden substituted fist-bumps for handshakes in some cases, together with his controversial greeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Face masks have been required on Air Drive One, and passengers have been examined for COVID, in keeping with pre-trip steerage.
Will Biden preserve working?
The White Home had acknowledged that Biden might catch the virus because the president balanced potential dangers with a return to common actions.
“I would not say it is only a matter of time,” White Home COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha stated on April 26. “However, after all, it’s attainable that the president, like every other American, might get COVID.”
Biden’s medical doctors beforehand assessed he might proceed to hold out his duties if he contracted the virus, then-White Home press secretary Jen Psaki stated in April.
“He has entry to the perfect well being care on this planet,” Psaki stated on the time.
Different notable COVID circumstances
Psaki herself examined optimistic in late March, months after a earlier bout of COVID.
Vice President Kamala Harris examined optimistic in late April, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff examined optimistic in March.
Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who’s third in line for the presidency, examined optimistic in April, as did three Cupboard secretaries, a number of members of Congress and Biden’s sister.
Pelosi stated Thursday she hopes Biden’s signs “proceed to be (gentle). That was my expertise.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s prime infectious illness knowledgeable, examined optimistic in June. He later had a rebound an infection after taking Paxlovid.
Vaccines and White Home protocols
Biden has been vaccinated, and he obtained his first booster shot in September and a second on the finish of March.
As well as, the White Home had gone past CDC’s really helpful protocols to guard Biden from the virus. Anybody who meets with the president or is touring with him is examined first. When attainable, Biden can also be saved socially distanced from others, Psaki beforehand stated. And the president is frequently examined.
Nonetheless, Biden makes danger assessments, “identical to many People,” when he feels it’s necessary for him to journey or attend an occasion in individual, Psaki beforehand stated.
“And positively, that is one of many causes we wish to be very clear that it’s attainable he might check optimistic for COVID,” she stated on April 26.
Biden’s age places him at greater danger
Past the vaccines he is obtained, Biden might additional enhance his safety from extreme sickness by taking Paxlovid, which Harris was prescribed.
Biden is a comparatively excessive danger for a extreme case merely due to his age. On the optimistic facet, he has no different main danger elements akin to weight problems, diabetes, bronchial asthma or continual lung illness.
Biden has urged People to get vaccinated and to get their booster photographs, stressing that those that are protected can really feel safer.
“There shall be optimistic circumstances in each workplace, even right here within the White Home,” Biden stated in December, when omicron was surging in Washington as he introduced new measures to fight the pandemic.
Different world leaders who’ve gotten COVID-19 this 12 months embody Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, Prime Minister Micheál Martin of Eire, President Andrzej Duda of Poland and President Arif Alvi of Pakistan.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Rebecca Morin and Ella Lee.
