President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, causing the cancellation of a critical campaign event aimed at bolstering support among Latino voters. This comes at a crucial moment in the election.
Biden, 81, is experiencing mild symptoms and has begun treatment with the antiviral drug Paxlovid, according to his doctor. “I feel good,” Biden, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, told reporters in Las Vegas, flashing a thumbs-up before boarding Air Force One to return to his Delaware residence. He will self-isolate there following CDC guidelines.
The Biden campaign has emphasized the president’s recent campaign trail activities as evidence of his vigor as the presumptive Democratic nominee, aiming to alleviate growing concerns within the party. Wednesday’s event in Las Vegas, where he was scheduled to speak at the UnidosUS annual conference, was intended to highlight direct engagement with a diverse coalition of voters.
However, the event was abruptly halted when news broke that Biden had tested positive for COVID-19. He had been actively participating in an interview and meeting voters at a local supermarket earlier in the day. UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía informed attendees of Biden’s diagnosis, which elicited audible gasps, noting that Biden had expressed deep disappointment at not being able to attend.
The source of Biden’s infection remains unclear, but his diagnosis necessitates a period of isolation, a significant setback as Democratic lawmakers have been eager for his visible presence on the campaign trail. The CDC advises staying home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication and improving symptoms for 24 hours, followed by wearing a mask for five days.
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A White House official stated that Biden has previously managed COVID-19 through video calls and is expected to continue engaging remotely during his recovery. The Biden campaign plans to adjust and maximize remote activities.
Biden was at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, residence last weekend, making calls to key lawmakers. Some party members continue to express concerns about his viability as a candidate. The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump temporarily paused public calls for Biden to step aside, but these calls resurfaced as Biden resumed campaigning.
Just before Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis was announced, California Rep. Adam Schiff, a Senate candidate and former House Intelligence chairman, publicly urged Biden to drop out of the race. As Trump prepares to accept the GOP nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Democrats worry about Biden’s ability to defeat him and the potential impact on down-ballot races in November.
Despite rising anxiety within the Democratic Party following Biden’s debate performance in Atlanta, sources indicate a shift in the White House and the Biden campaign’s approach. Senior Democratic officials report ongoing private conversations with Biden, who is showing increased receptivity to party concerns.
Vice President Kamala Harris will maintain her campaign schedule, including a Thursday event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, according to an administration staffer. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, though Harris tested negative.
Biden was seen without a mask before boarding Air Force One but wore one in the car and on the flight to Delaware, a White House official noted. Biden’s doctor reported symptoms including a runny nose, non-productive cough, and general malaise. Biden’s first positive COVID-19 test was in July 2022, followed by a rebound case.
COVID-19 levels have been rising nationwide, with the CDC reporting a 23.5% increase in emergency visits for COVID-19 in the week ending July 6, and high viral activity in wastewater.
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