The White House announced that President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the president was experiencing very mild symptoms from the disease.
She added that he was fully vaccinated, twice boosted, and will remain in isolation until he tests negative. He is also receiving Paxlovid as treatment. Jean-Pierre noted that Biden would be on the job communicating via phone and zoom while he was in isolation.
The president tweeted an announcement to the American public, declaring the diagnosis and his well-being.
An update from me: pic.twitter.com/L2oCR0uUTu
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2022
He also tweeted a photo of himself busy at work in the Treaty Room at the White House.
Folks, I'm doing great. Thanks for your concern. Just called Senator Casey, Congressman Cartwright, and Mayor Cognetti (and my Scranton cousins!) to send my regrets for missing our event today.
Keeping busy! pic.twitter.com/uf7AsOg571
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2022
Former White House Press Secretary Jenn Psaki told NBC the White House needs to be as transparent as possible and show that Biden is on the job and working.
“That is something that they will have to plan out for every day,” Psaki said. “Showing him on the phone with congressional leaders, foreign leaders, others and engaging in the business in doing his job.”
Yesterday, I signed the FORMULA Act into law – a bipartisan bill that will help increase access to baby formula for families across the country. pic.twitter.com/ug1L2l3FiN
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 22, 2022
Kevin C. O’Connor, the president’s doctor, said in a letter that Biden has a runny nose, fatigue and an occasional dry cough.
Reporters criticized the White House on Thursday for not making the president’s doctor available for questions from the media about the president’s positive test and condition. One journalist reportedly accused the presidential staff of exercising “the least transparency” of any president in 50 years.
Another reporter complained about “second-hand reports” about the president’s health, insisting that the American public had not heard from the president’s doctor.
Jean-Pierre pushed back, citing the former administrations handling of Donald Trumps COVID-19 infection in October 2020.
“We are doing this very differently. Very differently, I would argue, than the last administration, and I’m happy to have that conversation with you,” Jean-Pierre said.
“We believe getting direct information — pretty much detailed information from this letter — that we, in a transparent way, are sharing with all of you,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said. “We are committed to doing that every day.”
Jeff Mordock of the Washington Times pointed out that former President Trump’s doctor held a press conference at Walter Reed hospital when Trump contracted COVID-19. However, the press conference raised more questions about Trump’s health because then-White House physician Sean Conley sidestepped several questions from reporters.
