USA: United States President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus as new variants challenge the nation’s efforts to resume normalcy after two and a half years of pandemic disruptions.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden was experiencing “mild symptoms” and has begun taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease. She said Biden “will isolate at the White House and continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has contacted the White House staff members by phone this morning and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.”
After taking two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office, 79-year-old Biden has been fully vaccinated, given the first booster shot in September and an additional amount on March 30. By this point, Biden’s ability to avoid the virus seemed to be disregarded. Odds, even with testing procedures for those who expect to be in close contact with him.
Prior waves of the virus swept Washington’s political class, infecting Vice President Kamala Harris, cabinet members, White House staff and lawmakers. Biden has sharply increased his travel schedule and restarted significant indoor events where not everyone is tested.
When administered within five days of symptoms appearing, Paxlovid, produced by drugmaker Pfizer, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get the severe disease. In an April 30 speech to more than 2,600 attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Biden acknowledged the risks of attending significant events but said it was worthwhile. “I know there are questions about whether we should gather here tonight because of COVID,” he said. “Well, we’re here to show the country we’re getting through this pandemic.”
Biden is far from the first world leader — and not the first U.S. president — to get the coronavirus, which has infected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and more than a dozen other leaders high-ranking officials globally.
When Biden’s predecessor, President Donald Trump, contracted the disease in October 2020, it was a very different time. Vaccines were not available, and treatment options were limited and less advanced. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental antibody treatment, and steroids after the oxygen level in his blood became dangerously low.
He was hospitalized for three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. While much of the world has resumed normal rhythms after initial lockdowns to control spikes in cases and deaths, the virus still disrupts daily life as people change plans, separate and are forced to calculate the risks of participating in various activities.