Biden tests negative for COVID-19, will continue to isolate
President Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID-19 one week after testing positive with a “rebound” case.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said that Biden will continue to isolate until he tests negative for COVID-19 for a second time.
Biden continues to feel “very well,” Dr. O’Connor wrote.
“In an abundance of caution, the President will continue his strict isolation measures pending a second negative test as previously described,” he added.
Biden, 79, initially tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21 and experienced mild symptoms. He isolated in the White House residence, where he continued to work.
The president tested negative July 27 and began to participate in some in-person events. But three days later, he again tested positive and had to return to isolation.
While rare, rebound cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the oral treatment Paxlovid, which Biden took when he was first infected.
The White House announced Friday that President Biden is set to travel to flood-ravaged Kentucky with First Lady Jill Biden on Monday, “where they will join Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear to visit families affected by the devastation from recent flooding and survey recovery efforts.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden would not travel to Kentucky if he is still testing positive for COVID-19.
“He will only travel if he tests negative,” she said Friday.