VIDEO: Joe Biden Tests Positive for COVID-19 While Campaigning in Las Vegas

Milwaukee: United States President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while he was campaigning for the upcoming presidential elections in Las Vegas, and is experiencing “mild symptoms,” the White House said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in the statement.

The President is expected to return to Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during this time.

Meanwhile, the White House will provide regular updates on the president’s status, Karine said.

“His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97%. The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth,” the White House said.

This news came as the president was scheduled to speak at the Unidos event in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon.

Dr Kevin O'Connor, the president's physician, said that Biden “presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.”

He added that the president felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the coronavrius

“Given this, the president will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending," the doctor said. 

(Inputs from PTI)