President Biden on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19 — one day after giving a gaffe-filled speech that spurred health concerns and less than a week after returning from meetings in Saudi Arabia with killer Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Biden, 79, is the oldest-ever American president and his advanced age puts him at elevated risk of serious illness or death, though he has received four shots of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, reducing the risk, and is being treated with antiviral drug Paxlovid.

The president’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said in a morning statement that Biden “is currently experiencing mild symptoms, mostly rhinorrhea (or ‘runny hose’) and fatigue, with an occasional dry cough, which started yesterday evening.”

Biden tweeted a photo of himself around noon, writing, “Folks, I’m doing great. Thanks for your concern. Just called [Pennsylvania Sen. Bob] Casey, Congressman [Matt] Cartwright, and [Scranton] Mayor [Paige] Cognetti (and my Scranton cousins!) to send my regrets for missing our event today. Keeping busy!”

A raspy-voiced Biden released a video message Thursday afternoon, saying, “Hey folks, I guess you heard. This morning I tested positive for COVID.”

“But I’ve been double-vaccinated and double-boosted, the symptoms are mild and I really appreciate your inquiries and your concerns. But I’m doing well and getting a lot of work done, gonna continue to get it done.”

Biden, standing on the Truman Balcony, signed off saying, “Thanks for your concern and keep the faith. It’s going to be okay.”

White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told pool reporters that Biden didn’t sleep well and tested positive Thursday morning. A PCR test confirmed the result, but Jha told CNN that Biden doesn’t currently have a fever.

First lady Jill BIden, who didn’t join Biden on his Mideast trip that included an Israel stop ahead of a two-day Saudi visit, tested negative Thursday morning, her office said. Vice President Kamala Harris also tested negative, the White House said.

Biden has suffered a variety of health conditions over the years, including respiratory issues. He was not drafted during the Vietnam War due to asthma, a condition that can worsen the prognosis for COVID-19. He said in April of this year that his asthma was caused by air pollution near his childhood home.

A medical report drafted by O’Connor in November said that Biden “has experienced increasing frequency and severity of ‘throat clearing’ and coughing during speaking engagements,” which the doctor concluded after investigation was likely the result of gastroesophageal reflux.

The report also said Biden has had “several sinus and nasal passage surgeries” to alleviate discomfort. In 1988, Biden received treatment for brain aneurysms.

Biden’s health was widely discussed on Wednesday when he shocked listeners by claiming during a speech in Massachusetts that he has cancer, using the present tense. The White House hastened to clarify that he was referring to skin cancer from before he took office. In the same speech, Biden referred to male Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) as “she” and said that the city of Glasgow is in England, before correcting himself to say Scotland.

Biden’s diagnosis was announced by press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who will host a press briefing later Thursday that’s expected to focus on Biden’s condition.

“This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19,” Jean-Pierre said.

”He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms. He has begun taking Paxlovid,” she said.

“Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.”

Biden managed to evade the virus for more than 2 1/2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, including by campaigning for president largely from his home in Wilmington, Del. 

This year, Biden has regularly hosted mask-free interactions with guests at the White House and shaken hands with people at events across the nation and world.

Since March 2020, COVID-19 has killed more than 1 million US residents. The current strains have shown to be fatal largely among those who are unvaccinated.

Then-President Donald Trump caught COVID-19 in October 2020 and was hospitalized for three nights at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

The virus swirled around Biden repeatedly this year, especially as the more contagious but less deadly Omicron variant caused record-high infections.

In April, a large number of prominent DC Democrats tested positive for the virus, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Harris’ communications director Jamal Simmons.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tested positive April 7 after attending two White House events with Biden. Biden kissed Pelosi on the cheek at one event and she stood behind his shoulder one day later at a bill-signing ceremony.

Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is 81 years old, tested positive for COVID-19 last month. He recovered, but recently said that Paxlovid — the same drug being used to treat Biden — may have caused him to have a secondary “rebound” of the virus with worse symptoms than he experienced initially.

Biden was scheduled to make a trip Thursday to Pennsylvania to discuss his approach to crime before attending a fundraiser in Philadelphia. The trip was canceled.

“Consistent with White House protocol for positive COVID cases, which goes above and beyond CDC guidance, he will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative. Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work,” Jean-Pierre said in her statement.

“Out of an abundance of transparency, the White House will provide a daily update on the president’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”