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Joe Biden‘s fight to continue his re-election campaign amid concerns over his mental fitness has suffered a major blow after he tested positive for Covid.
Mr Biden had to suddenly abandon his campaign stops in Las Vegas on Wednesday as news came through of his diagnosis after greeting customers at a Mexican restaurant in the city.
The US president was said to be looking “slower and less energetic than the previous day” by reporters as he was held up in the diner before the result was revealed.
It meant his immediate campaign schedule had to be ripped up with him canceling a speech at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday evening.
Images of the 81-year-old withdrawing from the campaign trail are in stark contrast to the reception received by a bandaged but energetic Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention this week, as well as the enduring image of the Republican raising a fist for the cameras after surviving an assassination attempt at the weekend.
Although Biden’s symptoms are said to be mild, it adds to the mounting pressure on the president to stand down from his campaign following calls by senior Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.
Just hours before the diagnosis, Mr Biden said he would stand down from the presidential election race if he was advised to do so over a medical condition.
The White House said Mr Biden would now be self-isolating at his home in Delaware.
A statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the news and said the president would be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidelines, but continue to carry out all of his duties “fully” during that time.
“Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for Covid-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” the statement read.
“He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The White House will provide regular updates on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
A note from Biden’s doctor added he had experienced a “runny nose, a cough and general malaise.”
PCR confirmation testing will be pending and the president’s symptoms were described as “mild.” He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware.
Biden has conducted multiple campaign events, including rallies and press interviews across the country throughout the week. On Monday he sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt in the White House for a special interview.
He has been in Las Vegas, Nevada, since Monday night, appearing on Tuesday night on the last night of the NAACP’s 115th national convention. The president also sat for an interview for BET on Tuesday.
The president was asked during the interview what would have to happen for him to consider dropping out of the race.
Biden’s determination to stay in the 2024 race despite calls from Democratic voters and lawmakers comes just as Congressman Adam Schiff joined 20 other House Democrats to call for the president to step away from the race, saying it was “time for him to pass the torch.”
“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” Biden said in an excerpt released on Wednesday, shortly before the announcement about his Covid diagnosis emerged.
The news is the latest setback for the Biden campaign, which has endured weeks of calls for the president to step down from the presidential race due to his age and mental capacity.
A recent report by Puck detailed a Zoom call the president held with moderate Democratic lawmakers described by one participant, speaking anonymously to the outlet, as “worse than the debate.” The source claimed that Biden frequently lost his train of thought during the call.
During a one-on-one debate with Donald Trump last month, seen by many as disastrous for the president, he was also said to be suffering from a cold, and appeared onstage with a raspy voice.
