“President Biden Contracts COVID-19 and Cancels Campaign Speech”

President Joe Biden has been forced to cancel a campaign speech after testing positive for COVID-19. The White House confirmed that Mr. Biden is experiencing mild symptoms, including “general malaise” from the infection.

The 81-year-old president was set to deliver an address to UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, in Las Vegas. However, he will now self-isolate at his home in Delaware and continue to carry out his duties during that time.

Despite his diagnosis, Mr. Biden was seen boarding Air Force One without a mask and told reporters he was feeling “good” before cautiously walking up the stairs to the plane. The timing of his positive test is particularly challenging, as he faces mounting pressure to quit the presidential race over concerns about his age and health.

The news of Mr. Biden’s diagnosis comes just hours after an excerpt from a recorded interview emerged in which he stated he would only consider dropping out of the race if advised to do so due to a medical condition. The president, who is vaccinated and boosted, has been given a first dose of Paxlovid, an antiviral medication to treat COVID-19.

Concerns about Mr. Biden’s health have been a topic of discussion since his lackluster performance in a TV debate with former President Donald Trump. Despite this, the White House clarified last week that the president is not being treated for Parkinson’s disease.

The development has sparked further questions about Mr. Biden’s ability to continue his presidential campaign, with Republicans quick to contrast his situation with Trump’s survival of a bullet. Speculation about potential replacements for Mr. Biden as the Democratic candidate is also mounting in light of this latest health setback.