Joe Biden remains in ‘strict isolation’ after testing positive for Covid again on Sunday in what is described as a ‘rebound’ infection following a Paxlovid antiviral treatment regimen.
Mr. Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, said in a brief update on the president’s health that the second positive test was “not surprising” given what is known. rebound cases.
The president “continues to feel well,” according to the letter, which gives no update on specific symptoms.
His rebound infection deals a slight blow to the picture of rapid Covid-19 recovery that Mr Biden portrayed last week after self-isolating for several days following his first round of positive tests. Mr Biden has sought to portray the rapid end of his symptoms due to the effectiveness of the Covid vaccine, a portrayal that remains largely true as the President’s symptoms never approached the severity of those suffered by his predecessor, Donald Trump , who was not vaccinated at the time. of his own infection.
Mr. Biden could remain in isolation for several days this week as Democrats on Capitol Hill seek to unite around a deal to revive his flagship bill, the Build Back Better Act, in the form of the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act”. Absent the overhaul of America’s social safety net by the previous bill, this legislation would still hit some of the president’s priorities, including lowering prescription drug prices and tackling climate change.
Amid the president’s battle with Covid last week, it was announced that his communications director Kate Bedingfield, who was previously set to leave the administration, would at least stay on for the foreseeable future.
“After careful consideration, discussion and reflection, I have decided to stay,” she told her colleagues in an email on Friday, according to The New York Times.
“I’m not done here and there’s so much more good work to do with all of you. I couldn’t be happier and more excited about this super – although admittedly it’s last minute! – development. The work is too big and too energizing and I have a lot of gas left in the tank.
The Independent Gt