The White House said that tests had confirmed that US President Joe Biden was infected with the Corona virus (Covid-19), and that he had mild symptoms and would continue to work, but subject to self-isolation.
And White House physician Kevin O'Connor said in a memo published yesterday, Thursday, that Biden, 79, suffers from a runny nose, fatigue and a dry, intermittent cough, symptoms that began to appear on him the day before yesterday, Wednesday, and that he has started taking the antiviral drug Baxolvid.
Biden - who received the vaccination and two boosters - said in a video posted on his Twitter account that he is fine, doing a lot of work and will continue to perform his duties.
Biden also appeared smiling in a photo published in the account, wearing a jacket and sitting at a desk with papers.
"In compliance with the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he will self-isolate in the White House and continue to perform all of his duties fully during this time," Biden's spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
And the reporter for the American “NBC” channel (NBC) stated that Vice President Kamala Harris was considered among the circle of contacts with Biden after he was diagnosed with Corona.
And in the past months, tests have proven positive that a large number of members of the Biden administration and other dignitaries in Washington were infected with the Corona virus, including Vice President Kamala Harris, last April, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Jean-Pierre said Biden speaks with his staff on the phone and will continue to participate in meetings by phone and via the Zoom application from the White House during his recovery.
She added that Biden will take action immediately when the tests prove negative, and that the White House will issue a daily bulletin on the president's health.
Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, contracted COVID-19 in late 2020 and was hospitalized for several days.
"We are in a very different situation than the last time a President of the United States contracted Covid," Azkel Emmanuel, a physician and former member of Biden's COVID transition team, said on Twitter.
He added, "Biden is fully vaccinated, and it is reported that he is taking a drug (Baxulovid). If that shows anything, it is how contagious this fifth mutant is. Rest assured."
And regarding the health repercussions of Biden’s infection with corona, the head of the Corona Virus Control Team in the White House, Ashish Jha, said yesterday, Thursday, that the risk of President Joe Biden being exposed to a serious illness is very limited due to his receiving the vaccination in addition to two booster doses.
Last week, Biden made a Middle East tour that included Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia, during which he met a number of presidents and leaders, and attended an Arab-American summit in Jeddah.
The White House did not reveal how Biden contracted the virus, but his last appearance was when he received the Ukrainian first lady and during a speech on climate change.
Biden was scheduled to travel to Pennsylvania during the day as part of a series of trips across the country aimed at reviving Democrats' fortunes ahead of the midterm elections.