Biden tests positive for COVID-19, fuelling health worries

The 81-year-old Democrat gave reporters the thumbs up from his limousine

US President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms on Wednesday (Jul 17), shortly after conceding that he would consider dropping his troubled re-election bid if he was diagnosed with a serious medical condition.

The 81-year-old Democrat gave reporters the thumbs up from his limousine and said "I feel good" as he cut short a campaign trip to Las Vegas and flew to his beach home in Delaware to go into isolation.

Biden thanked well-wishers on X, adding that "I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people".

But the infection comes at a critical moment for Biden's campaign, after a disastrous debate performance against rival Donald Trump sparked concerns about his health and calls from some Democrats for him to step aside

It is also the latest development in a tumultuous few days in an already frenetic White House race that saw his Republican Trump survive an assassination attempt at a campaign rally of his own.