President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 again, a few days later recovered from its previous case of the virus, the White House physician said in a statement on Saturday. He has no symptoms, but will self-isolate again.
In a tweet, the president said he is “still working” but isolating “for the safety of everyone around me.” He will not be going on his upcoming trips to Wilmington, Delaware or Michigan, the White House said.
Folks, I tested positive for COVID again today.
This happens to a small minority of people.
I have no symptoms, but I will self-isolate for the safety of everyone around me.
I’m still at work and will be back on the road soon.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 30, 2022
On Saturday afternoon, the president proved his point by sharing a photo of himself wearing a mask and signing a document that will add individual assistance to the major disaster declaration he later approved. Kentucky experienced deadly and damaging flooding. He also shared a video of himself at the White House with his dog Commander.
I am taking further action to help the families displaced and the lives lost due to flooding in Kentucky.
Today I added Individual Assistance to the major disaster declaration I approved to expedite support for flood survivors. pic.twitter.com/6G1oXDDIFn
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 30, 2022
A quick update. pic.twitter.com/FgT1sGlZCY
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 30, 2022
A photo was also posted on Mr Biden’s Instagram account on Saturday evening showing him using his phone to FaceTime with “families fighting to pass stove legislation”.
This is in reference to a bill, which could not advance in the Senate this week, which would provide benefits to an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burns in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The president, who is vaccinated and on a double boost, is feeling “pretty good” and his doctor, Col. Kevin O’Connor, said he will not begin any treatment at this time.
Mr. Biden is experiencing what O’Connor called “‘rebound’ positivity,” which can happen to a small percentage of patients treated with the drug Paxlovid.
Mr. Biden was first diagnosed with COVID less than two weeks ago. The president, who is 79 years old, went into isolation and started taking Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment made by Pfizer, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement announcing her diagnosis. He experienced only mild symptoms.
After five days, Mr. Biden tested negative on Tuesday evening, ending his period in isolation. He subsequently tested negative on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, his doctor said. However, an antigen test came back positive on Saturday morning.
His positive test nine days ago was the first time Mr. Biden had contracted the coronavirus.
Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative for COVID on Friday, her spokeswoman Kirsten Allen said. Meanwhile, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, who has been staying at the couple’s home in Delaware since her husband first tested positive, also remains negative, according to communications director Elizabeth Alexander.
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of potential “rebound COVID-19” after a five-day course Paxlovid.
“If you take Paxlovid, you may have symptoms again,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told CBS News. “We haven’t seen anyone come back with symptoms that need to go to the hospital yet. So overall, a smoother course.”
After a patient recovers, a the bounce has been reported will occur two to eight days later. Still, the CDC says the benefits of taking Paxlovid far outweigh the risks. Among unvaccinated people at high risk of serious illness, it reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by nearly 90 percent, according to the CDC.
At the time, Pfizer said it was seeing a rebound rate of about 2 percent, but that it was continuing to monitor patients.
The White House’s COVID-19 coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, told reporters Monday that the data “suggests that 5 to 8 percent of people have recovered” after treatment with Paxlovid.
Kathryn Watson and Jon LaPook contributed to this report.
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