White House says the US president has ‘mild symptoms’ and will self-isolate at his home in Delaware

"Prompting the Cancellation of a Campaign Event in Las Vegas Amid Calls for Him to Consider Dropping His Re-election Bid Due to Age Concerns"

After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, O’Connor said.

“He said to tell my folks that we’re not going to get rid of him that quickly. We’re going to have a chance to hear from him in the future directly

In a statement, Schumer’s office called the report “idle speculation” and said Schumer “conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday”.

Earlier on Wednesday, Democratic US Representative Adam Schiff became the 20th congressional Democrat to publicly call for Biden to drop out of the race.

"It is time for him to pass the torch," Schiff stated, "thereby securing his legacy of leadership and enabling us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election."

Biden meanwhile has been defiant in the face of the calls to quit the race, telling one interviewer that only the “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to go.