His press secretary announced the news, adding that the president is “experiencing very mild symptoms.” First Lady Jill Biden tested negative for the virus this morning. Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden, 79, tested positive this morning, adding that he is fully vaccinated and twice boosted. Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, said the president’s mild symptoms began Wednesday and include a runny nose, dry cough and fatigue. He added that the president went to bed and felt good, but did not sleep well. The White House said he has started taking the antiviral treatment Paxlovid and will self-isolate while continuing to perform his duties “fully”. The prime minister’s spokesman said Boris Johnson sends Biden his “best wishes” and hopes he has a speedy recovery. The president was out and about yesterday, giving a speech on climate change at a former coal plant in Massachusetts. The White House added that Biden was on the phone with staff members this morning and will participate in his scheduled meetings via phone and Zoom and will continue to work in person when he tests negative. The statement continued: “The President’s last previous test for COVID was on Tuesday, when he tested negative. Earlier this year in April, Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for the virus and was isolated until she tested negative.
