Category: Corona Virus

LAS VEGAS (AP) President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The news had first been shared by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the groups convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a note that Biden, 81, presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, OConnor said.

Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.

The presidents diagnosis comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked a flurry of concern among Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term.

Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.

The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.

Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.

Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.

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Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Stephanie Nano and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas, has 'mild symptoms' - The Associated Press

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. PresidentJoe Bidendid not wear a face mask in public a couple of times after the White Houseannounced he had tested positive for COVID-19.The White House said the Democratic incumbent was experiencing mild symptoms while the presidents physician said Biden would self-isolate in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals.

What does the CDC guidance say? What does the White House say?

After the announcement on Wednesday, Biden emerged bare-faced from the motorcade after he arrived at the airport in Las Vegas, where he had made several appearances, and boarded Air Force One. He also was not wearing a mask, which medicals professionals have said can help slow the spread of disease, as he stepped off the plane hours later at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Biden was surrounded by Secret Service agents and aides on both ends of the trip.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said inWednesdays announcementthat Biden, 81, was experiencing mild symptoms and would stick to prearranged plans to travel to his home in Rehoboth Beach, where he would isolate.

Bidens physician, Dr. Kevin OConnor, said in a separate statement that Biden had a runny nose, dry cough and a feeling of general malaise. He said Biden was being treated with the drug Paxlovid and will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals.

TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention encourages peoplerecovering from COVID-19 or any other respiratory illness to wear masks as part of an overall strategy to reduce transmission, but masks are not mandated.

The CDC recommends that people stay home and away from others if theyre feeling sick. They say people can resume normal activities when symptoms have started to improve and the person no longer has a fever.

The CDC describes masks as an additional strategy for preventing disease spread, but it generally leaves it up to individuals to decide whether to use them. It calls masks especially helpful when someone is sick and suggests they be used as a precaution during recovery.

The White House has not responded to an emailed request for comment about why Biden chose not to wear a mask.

OConnor said Thursdaythat Biden is still experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms from COVID-19,. The president does not have a fever and his vital signs remained normal. Hes being treated with the drug Paxlovid.

Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy manager of Bidens reelection campaign, said Thursday that Biden was feeling fine and was making calls and doing work. Fulks spoke at a news conference on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a separate Zoom briefing that Biden was being kept up to speed as appropriate by his leadership team, and certainly that includes on the national security front.

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Biden has Covid and didn't wear a mask. The CDC's guidelines say he doesn't have to. - NBC News

Temperatures arent the only thing on the rise this summer. COVID-19 cases are climbing too, making your risk of getting infected higher than its probably been in a while.

[1]Nationwide, cases are up in at least 42 states. And, in the week ending July 13, emergency room visits for COVID-19 infections increased 16 percent over the week before, the CDC reported.

[2]

All this may have you wondering how concerned you should be about getting COVID this summer, and what to do if you get sick. What symptoms can you expect? Do you need to isolate or wear a mask? Should you take Paxlovid? Read on for the latest expert advice.

For many people, COVID-19 is now producing fewer and less severe symptoms than during the height of the pandemic, says George Rutherford MD, a professor emeritus of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California in San Francisco.

However, if youre elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are unvaccinated, all bets are off, and you can have just as severe disease as earlier on in the pandemic, Dr. Rutherford says.

COVID symptoms can vary from one person to the next, says Emily Hyle, MD, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

A wide range of symptoms can occur when people have COVID-19: mild respiratory symptoms [like runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, and sneezing], nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and flu-like symptoms, as well as more severe symptoms including shortness of breath, Dr. Hyle says.

Overall, people tend to have more mild symptoms if they have previously been infected, although this can vary; vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect against more severe symptoms, she adds.

In a word: yes. If you have COVID-19, it is recommended that you help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others, especially people who are at increased risk of severe illness such as older people, people with medical problems, and people with immunosuppression, Hyle says.

[3]

After that, people can return to normal activities while still taking some precautions for five additional days to reduce the spread of illness, the CDC advises. These types of precautions can include masking indoors, improving ventilation by opening windows, and testing before interacting with people at high risk for serious illness, Hyle says.

[4]

[5]

Paxlovid remains effective as an antiviral for people who become infected with COVID-19 and are at increased risk for severe illness, Hyle says. It does have some drug-drug interactions, so its important to talk with a clinician about the individual risks and benefits.

People who get COVID-19 infections right now typically have symptoms for four or five days, Rutherford says.

But this, too, can vary, Hyle notes. The best way to shorten the duration and severity of symptoms is to seek treatment promptly, Hyle adds.

If you are at increased risk for severe illness with COVID-19, then its recommended to call your doctor as soon as you develop any symptoms or test positive since Paxlovid might be recommended and is most effective when taken soon after symptom onset, Hyle says. Shortness of breath or chest pain should prompt emergency care in anyone.

A lot of the same things you would do at home to manage cold and flu symptoms can also work for COVID-19 symptoms if you get sick this summer with a relatively mild case.

[6]You can also take over-the-counter medicines such as fever reducers, pain relievers, or cough syrup.

If youre isolating at home with COVID-19, Mayo Clinic also offers the following tips to promote physical and mental health:

[7]

The CDC recently okayed reformulated 20242025 COVID vaccines that target the currently circulating variants, recommending everyone age 6 months and up get a shot this fall.

Individuals at high risk of severe disease should get boosters twice a year, waiting at least eight weeks between doses, Hyle says.

Because people are diagnosed with long COVID only when their symptoms from acute infections persist for at least three months, it will take some time to see for sure what the risk of long COVID looks like for people who are getting sick right now.

However, some recent data suggests that the risk of long COVID is going down, Rutherford says.

[8]

Overall, the study found that about 5.3 percent of vaccinated people infected when the delta variant was circulating went on to get long COVID, compared with 3.5 percent of individuals infected later in the pandemic when the omicron variant was circulating.

Among unvaccinated people, long COVID rates dipped from about 10.4 percent to 7.8 percent over the same time frame.

Thats still a substantial number of cases given the number of cases of COVID, Rutherford says.

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How to Cope With Summer COVID - Everyday Health

President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Dr. Kevin OConnor, Bidens physician, said the president contracted the KP.2.3 variant. It marks the third time Biden has contracted the virus even though he has received numerous vaccines and boosters. The fact that he repeatedly contracted the virus despite his multiple inoculations would be the latest example of the efficacy of the vaccines being oversold to the public.

However, what does Bidens latest COVID-19 diagnosis say about the efficacy of vaccinations and boosters?

The hostility over vaccines in the countrys political discourse has long subsided. But flashback to when Biden and Democrats were pressuring people to get the vaccines and claiming that doing so would prevent someone from contracting the disease or spreading it to another person. Recall that during a town hall in July 2021, Biden said, Youre not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations. Bidens statement was debunked long ago and is an example of one of the numerous lies he made during his time in office.

Another example was when Rochelle Walensky, the then-director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in March 2021 during an interview on MSNBC, that vaccinated people dont carry the virus and dont get sick. Again, this was also debunked a long time ago, and it has since been established that the vaccines do offer some protection against contracting the virus but far from the initial projections many of the nations leaders and experts suggested.

But with Biden getting COVID-19 three times in the last two years and with the White House clarifying that he was up to date on his vaccinations, or boosted, it raises some questions on the vaccines and boosters. Getting COVID-19 at a rate greater than once per year does not inspire a lot of confidence for the public to continue to get vaccinated with hopes of being immune to the virus.

However, it should also suggest, based on a recent study, that the expectations of being vaccinated and boosted should seemingly shift from acting as an impenetrable wall of sorts that protects people from getting or spreading the virus to the vaccines preventing people from experiencing lingering harmful health problems, such as long COVID, or at least lessening the severity of the symptoms.

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For example, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed there was a 70% drop in long COVID cases due to vaccination. So there is an argument to be made that vaccines are beneficial, but that argument is not predicated on the thought that getting the vaccine will prevent someone from contracting the virus altogether which is what was originally said. Unfortunately, this perception still dominates many of the peoples views on the efficacy of vaccines. It would probably help if there were more public statements on how the perception of the benefits of vaccines should be shifted to focus on preventing long-term negative health problems.

However, given that the experts and leaders were, shall we say, less than candid at the height of the pandemic, it would be hard to imagine vaccine detractors believing anything. And having the president get COVID-19 three times in two years does little to remove such skepticism.

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Is Bidens latest COVID-19 diagnosis a vaccine and booster failure? - Washington Examiner

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The White House confirmed Wednesday that President Biden has tested positive for COVID and is experiencing mild symptoms.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID-19, the White House said in a statement.

"The President's symptoms have resolved," Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's physician, wrote in a statement. "Over the course of his infection, he never manifested a fever, and his vital signs remained normal, to include pulse oximetry. His lungs remained clear."

"He will continue to be monitored for any recurrence of illness. The President continues to perform all of his presidential duties," the statement continued.

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Last Week, the president tested positive for COVID while campaigning in Las Vegas. He had to cancel a speech at the UnidosUS annual conference before isolating himself at his home in Delaware.

RELATED: Biden tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms, will self isolate

O'Connor had said in a note that Biden "presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise." After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, O'Connor said.

Biden tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2022 and a second time slightly more than three days after he was cleared to exit coronavirus isolation. The second incident was a rare case of "rebound" infection following treatment with an anti-viral drug.

RELATED: Long COVID is more prevalent in these states, CDC data shows

Biden received the updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot, the White House said last September.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.

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Axios reporter Victoria Knight joins LiveNOW's Andy Mac with more insight after Dr. Anthony Fauci was grilled by lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week over COVID origins.

Given that the pandemic was declared officially over as of May 5, 2023, public health officials dont collect the same amount of COVID data as they once did.

Since COVID-19 emerged in 2020, scientists have learned that the virus has seasonal patterns, Varma said, with predictable peaks in spring/early summer and winter.

RELATED: Experts worry over pandemic's toll on child development

"Winter peaks are easy to explain more people spend time indoors, and there are changes in the climate, including relative humidity, that make it easier for infections to spread through the air," Varma, who served as the New York City mayor's senior adviser for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, told Fox News Digital.

Its not quite as easy, however, to explain the peak during warmer weather.

"It may be because the virus evolves at a frequency that aligns with the spring/summer or there could be other environmental factors that we do not understand well," Varma said.

As of June 27, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months of age and older get updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines when they become available in fall 2024.

The updated vaccine will target the new, prevalent subvariants.

FOX News and The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

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Biden tests negative for COVID-19, White House says - LiveNOW from FOX

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.

President Biden arrived at Dover Air Force Base, as he headed back home to Rehoboth, Del., after testing positive for covid on July 17. (Video: The Washington Post)

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 Presidents status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.

Relaying a statement from Bidens doctor, the White House said that the presidents 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 Bidens 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 groups president, Janet Murgua, 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 Bidens 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.

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Biden tests positive for covid, cancels events amid mild symptoms - The Washington Post

COVID-19 blue and green vector typography banner with virus symbol

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During the June 3, 2024, House Oversight Committee regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic, the 6-foot rule was again thrown into the spotlight, and questions about its appropriateness and effectiveness were raised. One of the Representatives questioned the continuation of advocating for 6 feet of social distancing after it was known the virus was aerosolized. This question exemplifies one of the underlying problems in our pandemic responsedividing the spread of respiratory pathogens into aerosols and large droplets.

Some critics of the 6-foot rule have pointed to the adverse impacts of social distancing on schools and businesses. However, social distancing was adopted by almost every industrialized nation, even Sweden. In most countries, including South Korea, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, a social distance of 1.5 yards or meters was recommended. The US, Canada, and the UK chose 2 yards or meters. A few countries chose 1 meter of separation, but this is so close that accidental contact between individuals can occur.

Social distancing has been advocated by science dating back to the 1800s and most recently has been supported by the findings published in the Lancet by Chu and colleagues. They observed a strong association between the proximity of the exposed individual with the risk of infection. There was a 12.8% chance of transmission for distances less than 1 meter, which dropped to 2.6% for distances greater than 1 meter. The authors stated, We found evidence of moderate certainty that current policies of at least 1-meter physical distancing are probably associated with a large reduction in infection and that distances of 2 meters might be more effective, as implemented in some countries. The researchers recommended implementing at least 1 meter of physical distancing and, if possible, 2 meters to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

There is ample evidence that the 6-foot rule will help decrease spread, but with a highly infectious virus, it alone will not provide adequate protection. Here is why:

Most importantly, droplets are a type of medium similar to solid particles (particulate matter or PM) that can spread the virus. Both droplets and particles have a continuum of sizes, not just large ones and small ones. Particles up to 100 microns can aerosolize. Breathing, talking, and singing can aerosolize particles. Smaller particles are generated deep in the lower airway, with larger particles in the upper airway. Breathing produces particle sizes below 0.8 microns, and speech produces additional particles up to 5 microns in size. The vast majority of the particles are less than 10 microns. Particles less than 1 micron have been observed to contain more SARS-CoV-2 viruses than larger particles.

Respiratory droplet aerosols can be highly infectious, decreasing their infectivity by approximately 10% every 20 minutes. However, the virus's survivability varies with relative humidity, and lower values decrease viral stability.

Air pollution from fuel combustion, such as car exhaust, produces fine particles (PM2.5) that can facilitate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Individuals living in regions with high PM2.5 levels are known to have higher COVID-19 death rates. As with small aerosols caused by droplets, these particles aerosolize and can spread much further than 6 feet.

Although the 6-foot rule will protect against large nonaerosolized particles, it will not afford the needed protection if one is exposed to a highly infectious airborne virus that spreads through the air. Because aerosols float in the air, ventilation is a key factor in their elimination. In highly ventilated indoor settings or outdoor venues, aerosolized particles will dissipate, but large particles will not. Thus, the 6-foot rule adds substantial protection if you do not have a mask and are outdoors. In highly ventilated indoor settings, the same may be true. This is why a CO2 monitor is handy for measuring indoor ventilation. However, the safest option indoors or in crowded outdoor settings is wearing an N95 mask.

The answer regarding whether the 6-foot rule is effective is yes. But it makes sense and is appropriate only if indoor ventilation is also addressed. Not having safe indoor ventilation is one of the most significant failings of our pandemic response.

References

US Congress. Committee on Oversight and Accountability. A Hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci. 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. June 3, 2024. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/a-hearing-with-dr-anthony-fauci/

Daily Mail. Rep. Comer says he 'likes the idea' of Fauci being arrested. MSN.com. June 2020. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/top-gop-says-he-likes-the-idea-of-fauci-being-arrested/ss-BB1nGvwA.

Shukman D. Coronavirus: Could social distancing of less than two metres work? BBC. June 32, 2020. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52522460.

Sweden hardens COVID curbs amid worries over Omicron. Reuters. Dec. 21, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-tightens-covid-restrictions-cases-mount-2021-12-21/.

Eldred SM. Coronavirus FAQ: How Do The Rules of 6 Feet And 15 Minutes Apply To The Delta Variant? NPR. Aug. 27, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/27/1031753581/coronavirus-faq-how-does-the-6-feet-15-minutes-rule-apply-to-the-delta-variant.

Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, et al; COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) study authors. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2020;395(10242):1973-1987. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32497510/.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Air pollution linked with higher COVID-19 death rates. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/air-pollution-linked-with-higher-covid-19-death-rates/.

Lam V. Air pollution can increase the risk of COVID infection and severe disease a roundup of what we know. The Conversation. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-can-increase-the-risk-of-covid-infection-and-severe-disease-a-roundup-of-what-we-know-201813.

Oswin HP, Haddrell AE, Otero-Fernandez M, et al. The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity with changes in aerosol microenvironment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022;119(27). doi:10.1073/pnas.2200109119. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9271203/.

Morawska L. Health Watch USA Conference. Sept. 14, 2022.Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.healthwatchusa.org/conference2022/2022Conference_downloads/05-Morawska-20220914-Webinar.pdf.

Morawska L, Johnson GR, Ristovski ZD, et al. Size distribution and sites of origin of droplets expelled during expiratory activities. J Aerosol Sci. 2009;40(3):256-269. doi:10.1016/j.jaerosci.2008.11.002. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021850208002036.

Santarpia JL, Herrera VL, Rivera DN, et al. The Infectious Nature of Patient-Generated SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol. medRxiv. July 21, 2020. Accessed July 21, 2024. doi:10.1101/2020.07.13.20041632. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.13.20041632v2.

Fox M. Six-foot social distancing rule misses bigger risks, MIT experts say. CNN. April 27, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/health/covid-spread-inside-wellness/index.html.

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Reevaluating the 6-Foot Rule: Efficacy and Challenges in COVID-19 Prevention - Infection Control Today

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Biden's age makes COVID risky. Is his health in danger? - USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS (AP) President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The news had first been shared by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the groups convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a note that Biden, 81, presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, OConnor said.

Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.

The presidents diagnosis comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked a flurry of concern among Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term.

Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.

The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.

Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.

Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.

Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Stephanie Nano and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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Biden tests positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas, has mild symptoms - The Boston Globe

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Biden has COVID-19 and he isnt alone. Cases are rising across the US. - USA TODAY