Former US president has tested positive to Covid-19.
Gatekeepers News reports that former President Barack Obama announced Sunday afternoon: ‘I just tested positive for COVID’, but said Michelle is still clear of coronavirus. ‘I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,’ the former president tweeted in describing his symptoms.
‘Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative. It’s a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven’t already, even as cases go down,’ Obama tweeted.
He did not mention whether either of his daughters Malia, 23, and Sasha, 20 were tested for the virus, but both are currently in college and likely away at school.
The diagnosis comes at a time when case rates and deaths in the U.S. are on the decline following the winter Omicron surge. It also comes as COVID restrictions are relaxing in the U.S.
There were still 38,482 new COVID-19 cases reported on Friday, according to the most recently available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Obama has been vaccinated for the last year. He announced on Twitter in March 2021: ‘Michelle and I got vaccinated against COVID-19 because we know it’s the best way to beat this pandemic, protect one another, and get the country back up and running again.’
‘So I hope you’ll get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It could save your life,’ he added.
The announcement came at a time when many impatient Americans were anxious to get the vaccine after it rolled out, but also when the Biden administration was struggling to get vaccine-hesitant Americans to get the jab.
Obama’s tweet featured a video showing him and wife Michelle receiving the vaccine along with former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and their wives, former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, respectively.
