Biden’s doctor provides update after president tests positive for COVID-19

Biden’s doctor provides update after president tests positive for COVID-19

President Joe Biden is still suffering from mild upper respiratory symptoms and continues to take Paxlovid after testing positive for COVID-19 this week, according to the president’s doctor.

Biden does not have a fever and his symptoms remain mild, Dr. Kevin O’Connor said in a statement Thursday.

Biden, 81, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday after his first event in Las Vegas, the White House said.

UnidosUS CEO Janet Murguía also announced the diagnosis from the podium where the president was scheduled to speak at the organization’s conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden and Maritza Rodriguez, Biden’s Latino adviser for president, greet customers at Linda Michoacan Mexican Restaurant during a stop in Las Vegas, July 17, 2024.

Susan Walsh/AP

“He is vaccinated and immunized and is experiencing mild symptoms,” the White House said in a statement Wednesday evening. “He will return to Delaware where he will self-isolate and continue to perform all of his full duties during this time.”

The White House said it would provide regular updates on the president’s situation “as he continues to fully exercise his duties while in isolation.”

The White House also shared a note from Biden’s doctor on Wednesday, who said the president was experiencing upper respiratory symptoms — including a runny nose and cough — and “general malaise” Wednesday afternoon.

“He felt well for his first event of the day, but because he did not feel better, point-of-care COVID-19 testing was performed and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus,” his doctor said, according to the White House.

President Joe Biden gives a thumbs up as he prepares to board Air Force One at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, July 17, 2024.

Swimming pool via ABC News

The president gave reporters a thumbs-up as he prepared to leave Las Vegas on Wednesday when asked how he was feeling and replied, “Good. I feel good,” according to the pool.

He was seen without a mask boarding Air Force One in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon to head to Rehoboth, Delaware.

Biden also shared his COVID-19 diagnosis on X later Wednesday night, writing, “Feeling great and thank you all for your good wishes.”

“I will isolate myself while I recover, and in the meantime, I will continue to work to do my part for the American people,” he said.

Biden had previously tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022 and had taken Paxlovid at that time, the White House said at the time.

President Joe Biden walks up the steps of Air Force One at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, July 17, 2024.

Susan Walsh/AP

The president was scheduled to speak Wednesday afternoon at the annual conference of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest civil rights and Hispanic advocacy organization, when Murguía announced from the stage that he would no longer be able to appear.

“Unfortunately, I just spoke on the phone with President Biden and he expressed his deep disappointment that he was not able to join us this afternoon,” Murguía told the crowd. “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 to him, and he obviously did not want to put anyone at risk.”

“He told me to tell my loved ones that you’re not going to get rid of him that quickly,” Murguía continued. “We’ll have the opportunity to hear from him directly in the future. He’s really sorry he couldn’t be with us.”

ABC News’ Mary K. Bruce contributed to this report.