The President of the United States, Joe Biden, tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time and was isolated againalthough “he continues to feel quite well,” the White House doctor reported this Saturday.
Biden, 79, “tested positive Saturday morning for an antigen test” and “will resume strict confinement measures,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in a report reproduced by the AFP news agency.
He explained that the cases of “rebound” of positivity are common among those who, like the president, were treated with Paxlovid, Pfizer’s anticovid pill.
“President no further symptoms and continues to feel fairly well. That being the case, there is no reason to restart treatment at this time,” she said.
The second positive test occurred just three days after O’Connor assured that Biden had tested negative for Covid-19 and that he did not need to continue the isolation that began on July 21, after the first positive test.
In fact, the contagion of the US head of state had forced him to cancel the meeting he was going to hold in his country with Alberto Fernández.
Biden, who is vaccinated with a full dose and also received two booster doses, is determined to “protect all those (…) who have to work near him”, whether it is White House staff, security guards or their environment, O’Connor stressed.
Paxlovid is an antiviral treatment that reduces the ability of the virus to replicate, slowing down the progression of the disease. It should be taken within the first few days after the onset of symptoms.
Joe Biden had announced his return to the Oval Office
On July 27, after six days of isolation for having tested positive for coronavirus, the US head of state posted on his Twitter account: “Back to the Oval Office.”
Biden’s tweet included a photo of a rid COVID-19 test with the line showing a negative result. “Thanks to Doc for the good attention, and to all of you for your support,” the president’s tweet said.
The White House had announced that, according to preliminary results, he “probably” suffered from the BA.5 variant of the Omicron strain, responsible for between 75 and 80% of COVID infections in the United States.
With information from agencies
