WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Public figures reacted on Thursday to news that Joe Biden, the oldest person ever to serve as president of the United States, tested positive for COVID-19.
DR. KEVIN O’CONNOR, BIDEN’S PHYSICIAN, IN A LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY:
“The president is fully vaccinated and twice-boosted, so I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do. Early use of PAXLOVID in this case provides additional protection against severe disease.”
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN, ON TWITTER:
“I spoke to Joe earlier and he’s feeling fine, just experiencing a few mild symptoms. This morning, I tested negative for COVID-19. I’ll continue to follow CDC guidance and wear a mask.”
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, ON TWITTER:
“I just spoke with @POTUS. He said he feels fine, and he’s working from the residence.”
U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL, ON TWITTER:
“I was sorry to hear that President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. Wishing him a speedy recovery.”
U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI:
“I understand the symptoms are light. I hope they continue to be so, that was my experience and I hope that’s the case for the president. … Let’s hope that it would encourage people to be tested, to get vaccines and the rest… None of us are immune, including the president of the United States.”
NO. 2 U.S. SENATE DEMOCRAT DICK DURBIN:
“My reaction is to put on a mask and start wearing it a lot more. They go to great lengths, as we should, to protect the president and his family. To be in his presence, you almost always have to have a recent test. And even under those circumstances with all those precautions, he was exposed to the virus. I wish him a quick recovery from it. Luckily, this virus appears to be very contagious but not as lethal as the earlier strains.”
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR SHERROD BROWN:
“He’ll sign things…He sounds like he’s working.”
REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN, ON TWITTER:
“My prayers are with President Biden, and I join all Americans in wishing him a speedy recovery from COVID-19.”
DR. PETER HOTEZ, VIROLOGIST AND DEAN OF BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, ON TWITTER:
“We all knew this would happen, it was just a matter of time. Given the hectic schedule of the POTUS and the super high transmissibility of BA.5.”
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, ON TWITTER:
“My best wishes to @POTUS @JoeBiden for a quick recovery from COVID-19, and prayers for his good health.”
(Writing by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Howard Goller)
