Biden tests positive again for Covid-19, has no symptoms

WASHINGTON • US President Joe Biden tested positive for the coronavirus again on Saturday, becoming the latest example of a rebound case after taking the Paxlovid treatment that has otherwise been credited with broadly impressive results in fighting the virus and suppressing its worst effects.

"The President has experienced no re-emergence of symptoms and continues to feel quite well," Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor, said in a memo released by the press office. "This being the case, there is no reason to re-initiate treatment at this time, but we will obviously continue close observation."

The "rebound positivity", as Dr O'Connor termed it, meant that Mr Biden was forced to resume "strict isolation procedures", in keeping with medical advice.

The White House announced that the President's planned trip yesterday to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and a scheduled visit to Michigan tomorrow, would not happen.

Mr Biden played down the development. "This happens with a small minority of folks. I've got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me," he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Biden first tested positive for Covid-19 on July 21. After five days of isolation, he tested negative last Tuesday evening and returned to the Oval Office a day later.

But doctors were watching for signs of a rebound case and made sure to keep testing him every day. He tested negative on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before receiving a positive antigen result on Saturday.

Paxlovid rebound has become a source of debate within the scientific community and among Covid-19 patients.

Initial clinical studies of the medicine, which is made by Pfizer, suggested that about 1 per cent to 2 per cent of those treated with Paxlovid experienced symptoms again.

NYTIMES