After five days in isolation, President Joe Biden has now tested negative for COVID-19. According to the president’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, he will end his isolation Wednesday.
President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday and experienced “mild symptoms,” including a runny nose, fatigue and dry cough. He took the anti-viral drug Paxlovid to treat the severity of the illness.
In a Wednesday memo posted by the White House, O’Connor wrote that the president completed a five-day course of Paxlovid Monday night and had completed five full days of isolation. He also tested negative Tuesday evening and again Wednesday morning.
“He remains fever-free and he discontinued use of any acetaminophen (TYLENOL) for the past 36 hours. His symptoms have been steadily improving, and are almost completely resolved,” O’Connor said.
According to the memo, the president will continue to wear a well-fitting mask for the next 10 days any time he is around other people. He will also continue his testing to check for “rebound” COVID positivity.
Biden is fully vaccinated and double-boosted. He had, until last week, been able to avoid the virus despite the fact that several people in his close circle had been infected, including Vice President Kamala Harris and multiple Cabinet members and White House staffers.