WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, with his doctors saying the 79-year-old leader was experiencing only mild fatigue and would isolate at the White House while carrying out his duties.

Biden, who posted a picture of himself working at his desk, tweeted that he was “doing great” — and apologised for missing a scheduled event in Pennsylvania.

“Keeping busy!” added the US leader, in a post carefully curated to show he remains at the country’s helm — smiling in a suit, with smartphones and documents laid out in front of him.

In announcing Biden’s diagnosis, the White House stressed that the president was fully vaccinated and twice boosted, and said he was “experiencing very mild symptoms.” It said Biden was taking Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill, an antiviral used to minimize the severity of Covid-19.

“Consistent with CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” it added in a statement.

Biden’s doctor Kevin O’Connor wrote in an official note that the president was suffering from fatigue, runny nose and a dry cough, starting on Wednesday evening.

O’Connor added that the president had tested positive in a rapid antigen test on Thursday morning before the result was confirmed by a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.

“I talked to him just a few minutes ago. He’s doing fine, he’s feeling good,” First Lady Jill Biden, who tested negative, told reporters on a visit to a school in Michigan.

Joe Biden is reported to be in good general health, but his advanced age will heighten concern over the impact of Covid.

Politically he is in a tough phrase of his presidency, facing November midterm elections that are forecast to be painful for his Democratic Party, as well as declining personal approval ratings.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022