Categories: Trending now

Biden tests positive for COVID : NPR

2024-07-18 09:45:01

President Biden boards Air Force One as he departs Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 17, 2024, en route to Delaware, after testing positive for COVID.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

For updates from the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, head to the NPR Network’s live updates page.

President Biden tested positive for COVID on Wednesday while campaigning in Las Vegas, the White House said in a statement.

The news comes at a time in his campaign when many Democrats have raised questions about whether Biden, 81, still has what it takes to run for a second term.

A number of high-profile Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff of California on Wednesday, have called on him to withdraw from the race following a debate against former President Donald Trump where Biden badly stumbled.

Biden has insisted he is staying in the race, and has been vigorously campaigning since the June 27 debate.

On Tuesday, he spoke to the annual convention of the NAACP in Las Vegas, sat for an interview with BET News, and did another campaign event focused on issues for Black Americans.

Then on Wednesday, Biden did an interview with Univision Radio at a local restaurant. Biden’s doctor said in the statement that the president had “felt okay” for that event, despite cold symptoms.

Afterward, he tested positive for COVID with a rapid test, the White House said. His symptoms are mild, but he will return to Delaware to self-isolate.

Biden is taking Paxlovid, the White House said. He is expected to continue to carry out his duties while he is isolating.

Biden had been slated to give an address to UnidosUS. Janet Murguia, the president of the group, broke the news of Biden’s diagnonis, telling the conference that she had just spoken to the president on the phone, and he had told her directly.

This is the president’s second bout with the virus. He first got COVID on July 21, 2022, and experienced mild symptoms. He was treated with the Paxlovid antiviral, then experienced a rebound case of the virus on July 30 of that year.

Biden’s advanced age has been a focus this year because voters have said they are concerned he is too old for the job.

Last fall, Biden’s physician said in a memo that the president had received an updated COVID vaccine and a flu shot. Several weeks earlier, Biden was vaccinated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can be dangerous for seniors.

News Today

Share
Published by
News Today

Recent Posts

Kareena Kapoor’s Next Untitled Film With Meghna Gulzar Gets Prithviraj Sukumaran On Board

Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…

2 weeks ago

Purdue basketball freshman Daniel Jacobsen injured vs Northern Kentucky

2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…

2 weeks ago

Rashida Jones honors dad Quincy Jones with heartfelt tribute: ‘He was love’

2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…

2 weeks ago

Nosferatu Screening at Apollo Theatre Shows Student Interest in Experimental Cinema – The Oberlin Review

2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…

2 weeks ago

What Are Adaptogens? Find Out How These 3 Herbs May Help You Tackle Stress Head-On

Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…

2 weeks ago

The new Mac Mini takes a small step towards upgradeable storage

Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…

2 weeks ago