Former US President Obama contracts 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.

I just tested positive for COVID. I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise. 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.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 13, 2022

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.