WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second day in a row, in what appears to be a rare case of a “rebound” after treatment with an antiviral drug.
In a letter noting the positive test, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the White House physician, said Sunday that the president “continues to feel well” and will continue to work from the executive residence while he self-isolates.
Biden tested positive on Saturday, prompting him to cancel travel and personal events as he self-isolates for at least five days in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
After initially testing positive on July 21, Biden, 79, was treated with the antiviral drug Paxlovid. He tested negative for the virus last Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing him to leave isolation while wearing a mask indoors.
Research shows that a small proportion of those prescribed Paxlovid get a rebound case of the virus. The fact that it was likely a rebound rather than a re-infection is a positive sign for Biden’s health after recovering from the illness.
“The fact that the president has recovered from his illness and has no symptoms is a good sign and makes it less likely that he will develop prolonged COVID,” said Dr. Albert Ho, an infectious disease specialist at Yale University’s School of Public Health.
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