The White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden will be traveling from Las Vegas to Delaware, where he will isolate himself and “continue to perform all his duties.”
For the third time in two years, President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the White House. The president was in Las Vegas, attempting to persuade voters, donors, and fellow lawmakers that he remains the strongest candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump in November, when he fell ill with a runny nose and cough, the White House statement said. He is now taking the antiviral Paxlovid and will isolate at his home in Delaware.
The Risk of Joe Biden Contracting COVID-19 at 81
The illness — Biden’s third COVID-19 infection, including a rebound case — comes as some of his allies and supporters continue to urge him to withdraw from the campaign, citing concerns about his ability to defeat Trump in November.
Since Biden’s first two episodes of COVID-19 (an initial case and a rebound shortly after in 2022), much has changed for the president and the pandemic’s trajectory. Biden’s cognitive abilities have faced heightened scrutiny, especially following a debate with Trump last month where the president struggled to complete sentences and maintain a coherent line of thought.
President Biden maintains that he is in good physical condition. This claim is supported by his primary physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who stated last February that the octogenarian politician is a “healthy, vigorous, and robust man, fit to execute the duties of the presidency.“
Joe Biden has stated that he would consider withdrawing from the presidential race if faced with a health issue. “[I would] if a doctor told me I have this or that problem…,” he said. However, the Democrat has emphasized that no doctor has informed him of any condition that would impede his ability to serve, indicating that he is likely to continue his pursuit of the presidency.
