Evangelist Franklin Graham is urging Christians to pray for the healing of President Biden in light of his diagnosis with Covid-19, saying the Bible instructs believers to pray for their leaders.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden had tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing “very mild symptoms.” He will “isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” the statement said.
“The news reports that President Joe Biden has COVID-19 and is experiencing very mild symptoms,” Graham wrote on his Facebook page. “We need to lift him up in prayer. The Bible instructs us to pray for all those in authority, and that includes whether we agree with their policies and politics or not.”
A letter from White physician Kevin O’Connor said Biden was experiencing a runny nose, fatigue and an occasional dry cough.
Biden is fully vaccinated and twice boosted, which means he has received four shots of a Covid-19 vaccine. He is taking Paxlovid, a new antiviral medication that can help COVID patients recover earlier. Doctors say it’s similar to Tamiflu.
According to new data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, COVID -19 vaccines offer significant protection against COVID-associated death but less protection against a positive test.
The Texas data shows that in the most recent 28 days, unvaccinated Texans were 10 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 and 31 times more likely to die of a COVID -19-associated illness compared to fully vaccinated Texans.
The Texas Department of State Health Services recommends boosters because the immune response to the initial COVID -19 shots wanes “over time.”
The White House said it will provide a daily update on Biden.
“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,” the White House said. “Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work.”
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
