Biden tests positive for COVID-19, four months before 80th birthday

The White House says US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing very mild symptoms.

The White House announced in a statement on Thursday that the aged president is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but the development is certain to trigger concerns about his health given his advanced age.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in the statement Biden, who is 79 years old, will continue carrying out the duties of the office.

“This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19.  He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms. He has begun taking Paxlovid. Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” she stated.

 Biden in a video message on Thursday said he is “doing well” and experiencing only mild symptoms after being diagnosed with COVID-19.  

“I’m doing well, I’m getting a lot of work done, I’m going to continue to get it done, and in the meantime, thanks for your concern,” Biden said in the 20-second video posted to his Twitter account. “Keep the faith. It’s going to be OK.”  

Biden said on Wednesday that he has cancer. But the White House press office quickly claimed that he was referring to skin cancer treatment that he had before taking office last year.

The remark appeared to be a stunningly casual health announcement during remarks about global warming.

“That’s why I and so damn many other people I grew up with have cancer and why for the longest time Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation,” Biden said, in a speech where he described emissions from oil refineries near his childhood home in Claymont, Delaware.

Biden is facing November midterm elections that are forecast to be painful for his Democratic Party, and falling personal approval ratings.

Biden’s approval rating has dropped to 29 percent as more and more Americans show dissatisfaction with him due to high inflation and rising gas prices in the country.

Most Americans have doubt about Biden’s health, mental fitness, poll shows

Most of the US citizens have cast doubt on US President Joe Biden’s health and mental fitness, a new poll revealed.

The White House said Biden had last tested negative on Tuesday.

"Out of an abundance of transparency, the White House will provide a daily update on the president's status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation," it said.

"Per standard protocol for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will inform all close contacts of the president during the day today, including any members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the president during yesterday's travel."

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk