The state of Washington:
US President Joe Biden was diagnosed with Covid on Wednesday, just after admitting he would contemplate withdrawing from his reelection campaign if he had a severe medical condition.
The 81-year-old Democrat signaled approval to the media from his limousine and stated “I am feeling well” as he ended a campaign journey to Las Vegas early due to the diagnosis.
The White House reported that he had a runny nose, cough, and overall feeling of sickness, was using Covid medication, and was heading directly to quarantine at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware.
The diagnosis was made hours following Biden’s comments in an interview on Tuesday, where he mentioned he would consider stepping down as a presidential candidate if a medical condition arose.
It was the most recent event in a series of dramatic days in the highly charged and divided White House race, where Donald Trump’s rival survived an assassination attempt at his own campaign rally.
Biden has been struggling to stay in politics since a terrible debate against Trump almost three weeks ago, where his exhausted and confused demeanor raised worries about his age.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, announced that Biden tested positive right after the initial event in a campaign in Las Vegas focused on engaging Latino voters.
He has received both the vaccine and the booster shot and is currently having mild symptoms. Jean-Pierre stated that he will go back to Delaware, where he will isolate himself and fulfill all of his responsibilities.
Biden’s physician indicated that he had a runny nose and a “non-productive cough” in addition to “general malaise,” as stated in a note from the White House.
The statement indicated that he has been given the Covid medication Paxlovid and has already consumed his initial dose.
His symptoms are still mild, with a normal respiratory rate of 16, normal temperature of 97.8, and normal pulse oximetry of 97 percent, it stated.
I am feeling great.
Upon arrival at a Las Vegas airport, Biden leaned out of his limousine, nicknamed the Beast, to give a thumbs up.
“Okay,” he told the media as he made his way to Air Force One maskless. I am feeling great.
Janet Murguia, president of the Unidos union for Latino workers, informed the audience of the diagnosis just before the White House announcement.
She stated that she had recently spoken with President Biden, who expressed his profound disappointment for not being able to be with us this afternoon.
The controversy surrounding Biden’s health is about to intensify, as more and more Democrats are urging him to withdraw.
When questioned about reconsidering his run for president, Biden revealed to BET, a Black media outlet, in an interview recorded in Las Vegas on Tuesday that he would only do so if a medical issue arose and doctors confirmed it.
Just hours before, he was dealt a significant setback on Wednesday when a prominent Democrat, Representative Adam Schiff from California, advised Biden to “hand over the reins.”
Schiff expressed worry in a statement to the Los Angeles Times that a re-election of Trump could weaken democracy and doubts the President’s ability to beat him in November.
Approximately 20 House Democrats and one senator have urged Biden to withdraw from the race for the White House.
Many polls indicate that Biden is behind in the election, competing closely with Trump.
