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Biden Falls Sick During Campaigning

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Is Biden too Weak?

President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced Wednesday evening.

Biden is experiencing mild symptoms and will be returning to Delaware to self-isolate while continuing to perform all his duties, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The president showed symptoms such as a runny nose and a cough before testing positive for COVID-19. He plans to isolate in Delaware and has begun his first dose of Paxlovid.

“President Biden presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, including rhinorrhea (runny nose) and a non-productive cough, along with general malaise. He felt well enough for his first event of the day, but as he did not improve, a point-of-care COVID-19 test was conducted, which returned positive,” his doctor said in a statement.

The doctor added that PCR confirmation testing is pending, Biden’s symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is 97.8 degrees, and his pulse oximetry is at 97 percent.

Biden was expected to speak at a conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, but UnidosUS President Janet Murguía informed the audience that he had tested positive.

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“Regrettably, I was just on the phone with President Biden, and he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events, as we all know, and he just tested positive for COVID,” she said.

Following the announcement, Biden, 81, left Las Vegas, boarding Air Force One without wearing a mask. “Good,” he said. “I feel good.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Biden participated in a campaign event at a local Mexican restaurant around 4:45 p.m. PDT, taking selfies with guests and inviting others to join the photographs. He also recorded an in-person radio interview with Luis Sandoval, host of Univision’s “Buena Vibra” and reporter for “Despierta America.”

Biden’s positive COVID-19 test came a day after he spoke at the NAACP national convention in Las Vegas and was interviewed by BET’s Ed Gordon. On Monday, he was interviewed by NBC’s Lester Holt at the White House before traveling to Las Vegas.

Over the weekend, Biden gave remarks in front of reporters in Rehoboth, Del., and at the White House following the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

The president last tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2022 and also took Paxlovid at that time.