Biden tested positive for Corona
An 81-year-old individual tested positive for the Coronavirus after an event in Las Vegas, Jean-Pierre added. Biden will retreat to his beach house in the state of Delaware, isolate there, and carry out all his duties in full during this period.
Biden has a runny nose, dry cough, and general discomfort, the doctor Kevin O'Connor stated. Biden is reportedly taking the Corona-medicament Paxlovid. A planned speech before a labor union representing Latino workers was cancelled.
Biden's infection comes at a time when he is confronted with an increasingly contentious debate within his Democratic Party over his mental and physical fitness for another Presidential term. The trigger was Biden's disastrous performance at the first televised debate with his Republican rival Donald Trump at the end of June.
When asked what could make him consider withdrawing his candidacy, Biden mentioned in an interview with the BET network the diagnosis of a serious illness right before the news of his Corona-infection became public.
Biden has so far insisted on being the best candidate. However, around 20 Democratic congressmen and one Senator have called on Biden to withdraw from the race for a second term. Politician Adam Schiff, who is considered an important power broker, called on Biden to renounce his candidacy for a second term on Wednesday.
In a statement for the "Los Angeles Times", Schiff urged Biden to "pass the baton on". He had "serious doubts" that Biden could beat Trump.
ABC News reported on Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had told Biden that it would be "better for the country" if Biden stepped down. A spokesperson for Schumer, however, stated that as long as the source of the report from ABC was not Schumer or Biden, it was "speculation".
The "Washington Post" and the "New York Times" reported that Schumer and the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, had warned Biden that his candidacy could jeopardize the Democrats' chances in the election. A spokesperson of the White House, Andrew Bates, rejected this in a statement. Biden had told both politicians that he was the candidate of the party and intended to win.
- Despite the 81-year-old individual testing positive for Coronavirus in Las Vegas, Joe Biden will continue his duties from his beach house in Delaware, following medical advice.
- Biden's health status, with a runny nose, dry cough, and general discomfort, has been noted by his doctor, Kevin O'Connor, who mentioned he is taking Paxlovid.
- The Coronavirus diagnosis comes at a critical time for Biden, as he faces internal debates within his Democratic Party over his mental and physical fitness for another Presidential term.
- In a controversial debate with Donald Trump, Biden's performance sparked concerns over his capabilities, leading to calls from some Democratic senators, including Chuck Schumer, to consider withdrawing his candidacy.
- Schumer, in a statement for the "Los Angeles Times," urged Biden to "pass the baton on," voicing "serious doubts" whether Biden could defeat Trump.
- Despite the pressure from key Democratic figures like Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, the White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, rejected the claims that Biden's candidacy could harm the Democrats' election prospects, with Biden reaffirming his intention to run for another term.
