When Joe Biden was diagnosed with coronavirus, age-related concerns translate to "I'm happy."
US President Joe Biden tested positive for the new virus on Wednesday, shortly after admitting he would consider abandoning his re-election bid if he were diagnosed with a serious illness.
The 81-year-old Democrat traveled to Las Vegas shortly after his diagnosis and told the media in his limousine, "I'm happy."
The White House said he experienced a runny nose, cough and “general malaise,” took COVID-19 medication and flew directly to his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, to isolate.
Biden's diagnosis came hours after he made comments in an interview on Tuesday in which he said he might resign as a presidential candidate "if I had any health issues."
In the latest development amid an already bitter and polarizing race for the White House, rival Donald Trump has survived an attempt to kill his own campaign.
Biden has been struggling for political survival since his nasty debate with Trump nearly three weeks ago; His fatigue and confusion raise concerns about his age.
Biden tested positive shortly after the first round targeting Latino voters in Las Vegas, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
"He has been vaccinated and supported and currently has mild symptoms. He will return to Delaware where he will self-isolate and continue to complete his residency program. Just this once," Jean-Pierre said.
Biden's doctor experienced symptoms of a runny nose, "dry cough" and "general malaise," the White House said in an accompanying letter. The statement said
had taken the anti-coronavirus drug Paxlovid and had received his first dose.
“His symptoms are still mild; normal respiratory rate of 16, normal temperature of 97.8 and normal pulse oximetry of 97%,” he added.
- 'I feel good' -
Biden later leaned over from his limousine, nicknamed "The Beast," as he arrived at Las Vegas airport and gave a thumbs-up.
“This is good,” he told the media as he walked to Air Force One without a face mask. “I am very happy.”
Janet Murguia, the president of the Unidos Latino Workers Union, announced the diagnosis to the crowd shortly before the White House announcement.
"I just got off the phone with President Biden and he is very disappointed that he will not be able to join us this afternoon," he said.
Anger over Biden's health will now intensify and many Democrats will demand Biden's resignation.
Asked what would cause him to reconsider running for president, Biden told BET in a taped interview in Las Vegas on Tuesday: "If I had a disease, a doctor would come in and say 'you'"
Top Democratic representative Adam Schiff of California , made a big impact on Wednesday when he asked Biden to “pass the light.”
"A second term for President Trump would undermine the foundations of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about the President's ability to defeat Donald." "Choose Trump in November," Schiff said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
About 20 House Democrats and one president called on Biden to drop out of the White House race.
Most polls show Biden trailing in the election in a tight race with Trump. Biden says Democratic voters support him, but a poll released Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found nearly two-thirds want him to resign.
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