US President Joe Biden is in very good health, confirming that he has COVID-19

 US President Joe Biden is in very good health, confirming that he has COVID-19

US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating at the White House.

White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said the 79-year-old president, who has been fully vaccinated and given two boosters, is experiencing "very mild symptoms" and will continue to carry out all his duties.

And he added in an official statement that the president is taking "Paxlovid" antiviral medicine.

Biden said on his Twitter microblog that he is "in very good health" and "busy on duty".

In accordance with White House protocol, the president will continue to work from inside his isolation cell until the test comes back negative, Jean-Pierre said, and will participate in meetings by phone and via the Zoom app.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's COVID-19 coordinator, said the president was tired and had a runny nose and a dry cough.

He added that Biden went to bed and he was fine, but he didn't sleep well and then tested positive on Thursday morning.

At a White House briefing Thursday afternoon, Jean-Pierre said Biden continued to work throughout the day and had calls with a number of state leaders and U.S. government officials.

Dr Jha said the doses Biden received meant his risk of serious illness was "significantly low" and further reduced by the antiviral medication he now takes.

He added that Biden will return to his normal activities as soon as the result of the test becomes negative.

Jean-Pierre said earlier that the White House medical unit would notify anyone who met the president on the day of the injury, including any members of Congress or reporters who accompanied Biden during his visit to Massachusetts on Wednesday. It is not clear where he was injured.