US President Joe Biden says he's "doing great" after testing positive for COVID-19, the White House announced on Thursday.
Later, Biden tweeted out a video update on his health status, thanking Americans for their "concern" and urging them to "keep the faith":
According to White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, the twice boosted POTUS is experiencing "very mild symptoms," and has begun taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug.
"He will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the resident," the statement added.
Jean-Pierre went on to assure that the White House would provide daily updates on Biden's health, and the president will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative.
The White House has also released a letter from Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, who detailed the symptoms that the president is experiencing, including runny nose, an "occasional" dry cough, and fatugue.
"Given that he meets U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) criteria for PAXLOVID, I have recommended initiating such treatment. The President is fully vaccinated and twice-boosted, so I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do. Early use of PAXLOVID in this case provides additional protection against severe disease," O'Connor wrote.
First Lady Jill Biden spoke to reporters as she arrived at a Detroit school, telling them she had just gotten off the phone with her husband:
"He's doing fine. He's feeling good," FLOTUS said, adding that she had tested negative earlier in the day.
The US president has just returned from his trip to the Middle East, where he was in close contact with a number of leaders. Ahead of the tour, the White House said that Biden would "minimize contact" because of the spread of the virus.
However, during his public engagements, Biden doled out fist bumps and pats on the shoulder to an Israeli delegation as they welcomed him at the foot of Air Force One in Jerusalem, before caving and shaking hands with ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Later, he clasped hands with two Holocaust survivors as he visited Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial.
During his trip to Saudi Arabia a few days later, he greeted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a friendly fist bump. On Tuesday, Biden hosted Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska at the White House.
This is the first time that Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus. The president received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December 2020, followed by a second dose in January 2021. In September 2021, he rolled up his sleeve again to receive a Pfizer booster shot, and a second booster in March 2022. The 79-year-old POTUS said he hadn't experienced any side effects after taking the vaccine and booster shots.