President Joe Biden. Image: Getty Images
President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 symptoms have significantly improved, according to a recent update from the White House. The President, who tested positive for the virus last Wednesday, has nearly recovered after completing his tenth dose of the antiviral medication Paxlovid. His doctor, Kevin O'Connor, reported that Biden’s vital signs, including pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature, are all normal. Additionally, his oxygen levels are excellent and his lungs are clear, which are all positive indicators of recovery.
Despite his health improvements, President Biden has canceled all public engagements since his diagnosis. The White House has not provided a timeline for when he will resume these activities. This health update follows the surprising news that President Biden will withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Amid concerns about his age and health, he announced he would step down and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Older adults, like President Biden, are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, but experts had anticipated his strong vaccination history and early treatment would lead to a swift recovery. Nonetheless, older individuals are also more susceptible to long-term symptoms known as long COVID, which can include fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness.
This marks President Biden’s second bout with COVID-19; he first tested positive in July 2022. Overall, Biden’s health has been stable, with recent annual physicals showing good results. However, his recent debate performance against former President Donald Trump drew some criticism, with observers noting his frail appearance and difficulty speaking. Concerns about his health have been partly fueled by these observations, though his doctor has reassured the public that there has been no worsening of his condition.
O'Connor also addressed earlier concerns about Biden’s health, stating that recent visits by a neurologist, which were logged officially, were routine and part of Biden’s regular check-ups.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises individuals with COVID-19 to isolate at home until symptoms improve and their temperature normalizes without medication. Even if someone continues to test positive, they are generally believed to spread very little virus once they have recovered from symptoms.
