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President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Janet Murguia, the president of UnidosUS, a conference in which the president was scheduled to appear in Las Vegas.
“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," Murguia said on Wednesday (July 17) via NBC News.
Biden was scheduled to speak at the event Wednesday night and was about an hour and a half late when Murguia made the announcement. The White House released a statement confirming the president's positive test shortly after.
"President Biden is vaccinated, boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time," the White House wrote on its X account Wednesday evening.
The White House also included a note from the president's doctor while confirming his positive test.
"The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general mailaise," the doctor said. "He 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 COVID-19 virus. Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending. 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."