Biden likely has the highly contagious BA.5 strain of COVID, but his symptoms, including cough and sore throat, are improving, White House physician says
- The White House doctor issued an update on Biden’s condition on Saturday
- The president’s symptoms “continue to improve” and are “less distressing,” he said
- Biden’s main symptoms are a sore throat, runny nose, cough and body aches
- Preliminary DNA sequencing shows Biden has the BA.5 strain of COVID
- The strain is now dominant in the US and seems able to evade previous immunity
President Joe Biden likely has a highly contagious strain of COVID-19, but his moderate symptoms are improving, the White House physician said in an update Saturday.
The variant known as BA.5 is an offshoot of the Omicron strain that emerged late last year and is now believed to be responsible for the vast majority of new coronavirus cases in the country.
dr Kevin O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in his latest update on Biden’s condition that Biden’s previous symptoms, including a runny nose and cough, have become “less bothersome.”
O’Connor’s earlier notes after Biden’s diagnosis Thursday made no mention of the sore throat or body aches.
President Joe Biden (seen Friday) likely has a highly contagious strain of COVID-19, but his moderate symptoms are improving, the White House doctor said
dr Kevin O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in his latest update on Biden’s condition that Biden’s previous symptoms had improved
Biden’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and respiratory rate, “remain perfectly normal,” and his oxygen saturation readings are “excellent” with “no shortness of breath at all,” the doctor wrote.
“His lungs remain clear,” the doctor added.
O’Connor said preliminary DNA sequencing results, which suggested Biden is infected with the BA.5 variant, “in no way” impact his treatment plan.
dr Kevin O’Connor is the President’s doctor
Biden tested positive for the virus Thursday morning. He has since isolated himself at the White House residence.
Administration officials have stressed that his symptoms are mild as he received four doses of the vaccine and started taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid after becoming infected.
Biden completed a second full day of Paxlovid on Friday night, O’Connor said. The antiviral agent is typically administered in a five day course.
Although Biden is reportedly in good general health, he is the oldest U.S. president ever elected, and his age increases concerns about the impact of COVID.
O’Connor reiterated that the president will continue to isolate in accordance with guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that his team will continue to monitor him “closely.”
President Joe Biden speaks virtually during a meeting with his economics team Friday in the South Court Auditorium of the White House complex in Washington
During a virtual meeting with economic advisers on Friday, Biden was hoarse but insisted, “I feel a lot better than I sound.”
He gave reporters a thumbs up when asked how he was feeling.
In his previous update on Biden’s health, O’Connor said the president had an elevated temperature of 99.4 F Thursday night, but it returned to normal after taking Tylenol.
The White House has tried to underscore Biden’s ability to process his illness.
On Thursday, it released video of the president assuring Americans he was fine, and on Friday he attended virtual meetings with White House staffers.
Biden’s schedule showed no presidential events over the weekend. The President’s wife, First Lady Jill Biden, is at her home in Wilmington, Delaware.