American President Joe Biden, 79, has tested positive for Covid-19 according to a White House statement.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said that Mr Biden “tested positive for Covid-19. He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms.”
The President is taking Paxlovid, an anti-viral drug used to minimise the severity of Coronavirus, she continued.
Ms Jean-Pierre said the President will isolate at the White House but will “continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time."
Mr Biden has contacted members of the White House staff by phone and will participate in his planned meetings via phone and Zoom from the residence.
A statement said: "Out of an abundance of transparency, the White House will provide a daily update on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.
Per standard protocol for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will inform all close contacts of the President during the day today, including any Members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the President during yesterday’s travel."
The news comes as the United States is grappling with a wave of Coronavirus infections.
The latest surge has largely been driven by a spike of BA.5 subvariant cases and has sent cases to skyrocket in at least 40 states, particularly in the Great Plains, West and South.
Hospitalisations have climbed by 20 per cent in the past two weeks, with more than 40,000 Americans hospitalised with coronavirus on an average day.
