US President Joe Biden is retiring into isolation as has tested positive for Covid-19 for a second time, his doctor at the White House said Saturday.
Biden “tested positive late Saturday morning, by antigen testing,” following four consecutive days of negative tests, and “will reinitiate strict isolation procedures,” presidential physician Kevin O´Connor wrote in a memorandum.
“This in fact represents ´rebound´ positivity,” O´Connor said, referring to a situation in which patients treated with the drug Paxlovid — as Biden was — clear the virus but test positive after complet-ing their course.
“The president has experienced no re-emergence of symptoms and continues to feel quite well. This being the case, there is no reason to reinitiate treat-ment at this time,” he added.
In a tweet, Biden seemed to seek to minimize the situation. “Folks, today I tested positive for COVID again. This happens with a small minority of folks,” he wrote. “I´ve got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me. I´m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.”
Biden canceled planned trips to Delaware and Michigan, the White House said. The second positive test came just three days after O´Connor said Biden had tested negative and no longer needed to isolate, which he had been doing since receiving a first positive result on July 21.
Biden has for the most part been conspicuously careful about observing Covid protocols — in contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump, who sometimes mocked those who wore masks.
“The President continues to be very specifically conscientious to protect any of the Executive Resi-dence, White House, Secret Service and other staff whose duties require any (albeit socially distanced) proximity to him,” O´Connor said.
As the oldest US president in history — he will turn 80 in November — Biden´s health receives con-stant attention.
On Wednesday, he had ended his earlier five-day Covid isolation, appearing energetic as he told cheering aides that his quick recovery should inspire Americans to take advantage of free vaccines and treatments.—AP
