Hoarse voice, US President Joe Biden said “Just a cold”
Washington:
US President Joe Biden delivered a speech on Friday with a distinctive hoarse voice, but insisted he simply caught a cold from his nephew and was tested for Covid-19 daily.
Biden’s low, stony tone as he spoke at the White House about the economy, also accompanied by a few coughs, prompted the first journalist to call and ask, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Biden said. “I have a test every day … a Covid test. They test me for all strains.”
“What I have is a 1/2 year old grandson with a cold who loves to kiss his dad… but it’s just a cold,” he added.
The arrival of winter along with the emergence of a new Omicron variant of Covid-19 has raised concerns about the potential for outbreaks of cases, especially as Americans gather for year-end festivals.
Biden spent the Thanksgiving break last week with his family.
He turned 79 years earlier and is the oldest president ever elected in the United States, giving his health special attention.
In early November, he underwent a general but routine check-up, after which White House doctor Kevin O’Connor said the president was “healthy” and “vivid.”
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