President Biden tests positive for COVID-19 again but shows no new symptoms

On Saturday, only days after being given the all clear by White House doctors, President Joe Biden again tested positive for Covid-19.

Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, confirmed in a White House memo that Biden is not experiencing any new symptoms and “continues to feel quite well,” and will not undergo any further treatment at this stage. “This being the case, there is no reason to reinitiate treatment at this time, but we will obviously continue close observation,” O’Connor said.

Biden also confirmed the positive result on Twitter, saying: “Folks, today I tested positive for COVID again. 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. I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.”

O’Connor said that despite Biden being in good condition, he will still follow the standard isolation procedure, which Biden also confirmed in his tweet. O’Connor added that Biden’s 2nd positive test in such a short space of time is dubbed “rebound positivity.” He said that this can happen to Covid patients who undergo a course of Paxlovid.

The CDC has previously warned people about the possibility of “rebound positivity” for patients who take Paxlovid. “If you take Paxlovid, you might get symptoms again,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during an interview with CBS News in late May. “We haven’t yet seen anybody who has returned with symptoms needing to go to the hospital. So, generally, a milder course.”

Paxlovid can be prescribed under the emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A White House staffer confirmed that they are in the process of looking into close contacts following Biden’s positive test. Vice President Kamala Harris is not considered to be a close contact in this case and her Press Secretary, Kirsten Allen, confirmed that Harris tested negative for Covid on Friday.