The nation's efforts to return to normal after two and a half years of Pandemic disruptions were undermined by President Joe Biden's positive test for COVID-19.
According to the White House press secretary, Biden is taking Paxlovid, a drug designed to reduce the severity of the disease.
Biden will be isolated at the White House while continuing to carry out all of his duties, according to her. She said Biden has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House.
Biden got two doses of the Pfizer coronaviruses vaccine shortly before taking office, a first booster shot in September and an additional dose in March.
Biden will remain isolated until he tests positive again, according to Jean-Pierre. Biden was going to go to Pennsylvania on Thursday to talk about his crime prevention plans and then go to Delaware for a weekend. The events are no longer taking place.
The first lady told reporters that she had just gotten off the phone with her husband as she arrived at the school.
She said that he's doing well. "He's doing well."
The first lady said she did not test positive earlier in the day.
Even with the testing procedures in place for those expected to be in close contact with Biden, his ability to avoid the disease seemed to defy the odds. The political class in Washington was affected by the prior wave of the virus. Large indoor events where not everyone is tested have been resumed by Biden.
A measure of how ingrained the virus has become in society, and of its diminished threat for those who are up to date on their vaccinations and with access to treatments, has been the matter offact of top White House officials.
Paxlovid, a drug made by Pfizer, has been shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.
In an April 30 speech to more than 2,600 attendees at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Biden acknowledged the risks of attending large events, but said it was worth it.
There are questions about whether we should gather here. We're here to show the country that we're doing well.
The first world leader to contract the coronaviruses was British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It was a different time when Donald Trump contracted the disease. Treatments were limited and less advanced due to the lack of vaccine availability. After being diagnosed with Covid-19 at the White House, Trump was given an experimental treatment and steroids. He was hospitalized for three days.
While most of the world has resumed normal rhythms after the early lockdowns to control spikes in cases and deaths, the virus still serves as a disrupter in daily life as people are forced to change plans, isolated and calculate the risks of taking part in various activities
After more than two years and over a million deaths in the U.S., the virus is still killing an average of 353 people a day. According to the public health agency, unvaccinated people are more likely to die from the disease than people who have received a primary dose of the vaccine.
There have been a lot of questions about the president's COVID-19 protocols. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed face-covering guidance in most of the US after the Washington outbreak.
As the virus crept closer to Biden, the White House press secretary said that he believed it to be vital to him to travel and host large events.
She said that Biden makes risk assessments.
The omicron variant is the dominant strain in the U.S., but scientists say it poses a lower risk for severe illness to people who are up to date with their vaccinations. The BA.5 sub-strain now makes up more than half of US cases.
According to the White House COVID-19, there is a lot of infections in the US.
Biden was put in the White House because he promised to handle COVID-19 better than his predecessor.
Biden highlighted the administration's efforts to end the Pandemic and help the nation regain a sense of normal.
In his State of the Union address on March 1, Biden stated that it was safe for most Americans to resume their pre-pandemic activities.
He said we are moving back to normal routines. It's time for Americans to get back to work.
In recent weeks, U.S. officials have called for the public to exercise caution over the BA.5 variant and appealed to the public to seek out booster shots if eligible and for most Americans to consider whether they should wear a face mask indoors.
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, we should not allow it to disrupt our lives.
The White House wants to go above and beyond public health guidelines to protect the president, with all visitors and staff required to attest to their vaccinations or take daily tests. People expected to be near Biden are tested daily.
In the last few months, Biden has shown a willingness to participate in larger, indoor events, and many have not been wearing masks. White House officials say Biden was intent on showing he could fulfill his presidential responsibilities without fear of the disease.
According to Psaki, his doctors are comfortable that he could continue to carry out his duties because of all the precautions he has taken.
The vaccines most widely used in the U.S. have been found to protect against severe illness and hospitalization, but new cases have arisen even among those who are fully vaccine free.
Is that true?
Mike Householder is a writer for the AP.
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