Barack Obama has COVID-19. The former president, who is now 60-years-old, revealed he’s experienced a “scratchy throat” in a tweet posted to his page on Sunday, March 13. “I just tested positive for COVID.
I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,” he confirmed. Despite his diagnosis, wife Michelle Obama, 58, has tested negative. “Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative,” he added in the tweet, signing off with a reminder about the importance of both a double vaccination and booster. “It’s a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven’t already, even as cases go down,” he added.
It’s unclear where the Dreams From My Father author contracted the disease or what variation he caught, but per his tweet, it appears the results came in on March 13.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, the Hawaii native has been vocal about following rules and restrictions — including getting vaccinated last year. “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,” he said on Facebook in March 2021. “So I hope you’ll get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you.