President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 for a third time and will step back from campaign activities, a spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden tested positive after attending an event in Las Vegas and will return to his Delaware home to isolate. Biden has received both the vaccine and booster shots, including the first dose of Paxlovidone, the spokeswoman said. He is experiencing mild symptoms but plans to continue carrying out his presidential duties from his Rehoboth Beach home.
The 81-year-old Biden’s positive test comes as he faces pressure to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, after saying in an interview on the same day that he would not consider dropping out unless he had “a health issue.”
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“I’m disgusted,” Biden wrote on X (formerly Twitter), later adding in a reply that “Elon Musk and his rich cronies are trying to buy this election.”
Biden appeared to downplay the positive test result in a follow-up post including a link to donate to his reelection campaign. It marks the third time Biden has contracted COVID-19 since the start of the 2020 pandemic.
The president first contracted the virus in July 2022 after receiving the vaccine and two booster doses. He took Paxlovid and continued to work from the White House while self-isolating.
“I feel a lot better than I sound,” Biden said in a raspy voice during a live White House video conference call during the first wave of infections.
After completing his five-day quarantine period, Biden tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time, and although he had no symptoms when the infection recurred, he said he went back into isolation until his test came back negative.
“This happens to a very small percentage of people. I have no symptoms but I am going to isolate myself for the safety of everyone around me. I am still working and plan to return to work soon.” Biden said in a social media post. at that time.
Rachel Barber is a USA TODAY 2024 Election Fellow focusing on politics and education. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelbarber_.
