World
Former US President Obama contracts COVID-19
Barack Obama says he tested positive for COVID-19
Washington DC: Former United States (US) President Barack Obama has contracted novel coronavirus, though he’s feeling relatively healthy and his wife, Michelle, tested negative.
"I've had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise," Obama wrote on Twitter.
"Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative,” he added.
Obama encouraged more Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, despite the declining infection rate in the US.
There were roughly 35,000 infections on average over the past week, down sharply from mid-January when that average was closer to 800,000.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) report, 75.2% of US adults are fully vaccinated and 47.7% of the fully vaccinated have received a booster shot.
The CDC relaxed its guidelines for indoor masking in late February, taking a more holistic approach that meant the vast majority of Americans live in areas without the recommendation for indoor masking in public.