Biden's COVID-19 Diagnosis Puts Monday Visit To Florida Up In Air

FLORIDA ? After testing positive for COVID-19 Thursday, President Joe Biden's travel schedule is being reassessed, including his planned visit to Tampa and Orlando Monday, according to the White House.

The president's physician, Dr. Kevin C. O'Connor, announced Thursday that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected during the president's routine antigen testing Thursday.

He said Biden is experiencing mild symptoms, mostly a runny nose and fatigue, with an occasional dry cough, which started Wednesday night.

In a White House memorandum, O'Connor said he's recommended giving the president Paxlovid, a drug that is used to lessen the severity of the illness in vulnerable and older patients.

He added that the president is fully vaccinated and has received two booster vaccinations.

"I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do," O'Connor said. "Early use of Paxlovid in this case provides additional protection against severe disease."

O'Connor added that Biden will remain in isolation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden was scheduled to visit Tampa Monday, his first visit as president to Tampa Bay, to deliver remarks at a pro-choice rally.

Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris visited MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and held a roundtable in Orlando with Florida Democratic leaders on reproductive rights.

Harris said she was visiting MacDill to highlight and to uplift with praise the work of CENTCOM and SOCOM." Both United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command are based at MacDill.

"This work is critical to our national security. And there is so much about what happens through the leadership here on the ground that allows us to reinforce and strengthen our partnerships around the globe and reinforces our commitment to international rules and norms and America?s willingness and preparedness to uphold and defend those international rules and norms," she said. "The United States military, without any question certainly in my mind or the president?s mind and in the mind of the American people, is the strongest and the best fighting force in the world. When you look at the work that happens just right here, you will see extraordinary work that is about dedication, discipline, the building and strengthening of skills, and just sheer commitment to defending our country and the principles upon which we were founded."

Kamala said she spoke privately to the commanders of both CENTCOM and SOCOM about "the missions that are currently active around the globe and to talk with them about what might be necessary in terms of the additional support and resources that they need to do their job and complete their mission."

On Friday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is running for reelection, is scheduled to hold a roundtable on the supply chain issue at Port Tampa Bay and Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to visit Tampa to address the conservative Student Action Summit of Turning Point USA.