After completing his five-day regimen of COVID-19 treatment, President Joe Biden’s symptoms have “almost completely resolved” and he “now feels well enough to resume his physical exercise regimen,” according to his physician.
In a letter updating the public on the president’s condition, Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote that Biden’s “pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal,” his oxygen saturation level “continues to be great on room air” and his lungs are clear.
Dr. O’Connor said Saturday that Biden was “most likely” infected by the BA.5 variant, currently the most common strain in the United States, which Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, confirmed in an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
“Thank goodness our vaccines and therapeutics work well against it, which is why I think the president’s doing well,” Dr. Jha said Sunday.
Dr. O’Connor said Monday that the BA.5 variant is “particularly transmissible” and said that the president will continue to isolate in accordance with CDC recommendations.
“He continues to be very specifically conscientious to protect any of the Executive Residence, White House, Secret Service and other staff whose duties require any (albeit socially distanced) proximity to him,” Dr. O’Connor wrote.
The president on Monday took part in two virtual events: pre-recorded virtual remarks to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives conference in Orlando, Fla., and a meeting with business and labor leaders about the importance of passing a bill bolstering domestic semiconductor production.
Tuesday, he was set to participate in a virtual event about jobs and manufacturing and a celebration of the 32nd Anniversary of the American Disabilities Act.
On Friday, the president spoke at a meeting with his economic and energy team on gas prices, appearing remotely by video in his first public appearance since testing positive.
“Let me start by apologizing for my voice,” the president said, clearing his throat. “I feel much better than I sound.”
The White House has not released any photos or videos of the president since then, though Dr. Jha pledged on “Face the Nation” that the administration will keep citizens informed of his condition: “We think it’s really important for the American people to know how well their president is doing.”
“Obviously if he has persistent symptoms, obviously if any of them interfere with his ability to carry out his duties, we will disclose that early and often with the American people,” Dr. Jha said. “But I suspect that this is going to be a course of COVID that we’ve seen in many Americans who have ben fully vaccinated, double boosted, getting treated with those tools in hand.
“The president’s been doing well and we’re going to expect that he’s going to continue to do so,” he said.
Biden’s press secretary has said 17 people, including members of the president’s senior staff and at least one member of Congress, were determined to have been in close contact with Biden when he might have been contagious. None has tested positive so far, Jha said on “Fox News Sunday” and again in a press briefing on Monday.
Jha also confirmed that Biden plans to return to the West Wing for in-person work pending a negative COVID-19 test on his fifth day after testing positive, which will be Tuesday.
“Obviously the president is isolated and he will not leave isolation” until he gets that negative result, Jha said, adding in part: “We want to limit the number of contacts right and so to protect others […] the footprint around the president has been small and really limited to the the most essential people who need to see him.”
Doctors will continue to monitor the president on an “ongoing” basis to ensure he does not experience a relapse in symptoms. Jha said data shows around 5 – 8% of people who take Paxlovid experience a rebound in symptoms, which can occur anywhere from four to five days after symptom onset to potentially later on in the progression of the illness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
