“His main symptoms, although less distressing, now include a sore throat, rhinorrhea, loose cough and body aches,” writes Dr. Kevin O’Connor. “His voice remains deep. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain completely normal. His oxygen saturation remains excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”
Biden completed his second full day of Paxlovid Friday night and will continue to receive the antiviral drug, O’Connor said.
O’Connor wrote that Biden’s “causative” was “most likely” the BA.5 Covid-19 variant, which he said “is responsible for 75-80% of infections in the United States at this time.”
Biden “will continue to self-isolate in accordance with CDC recommendations,” O’Connor said, and will be treated with oral hydration, Tylenol and low-dose aspirin as an alternative type of blood thinner.
O’Connor said Biden, who had asthma when he was younger, will also continue to be treated with his “as-needed” albuterol inhaler, which he has used several times since testing positive.
“We have reason to believe (Biden) will do very well,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN’s Amara Walker on Saturday morning.
Although he has not spoken directly to the president, Fauci said he has been in “very close contact” with O’Connor since Biden’s positive test result this week.
Fauci said Biden “has no breathing problems at all right now” and that using an inhaler is what Biden “does regularly when he gets an upper respiratory infection.”
At 79, Biden is at increased risk of a more severe case of Covid-19 because of his age, but he is fully vaccinated and twice boosted — which the CDC says reduces the risk of hospitalization and death for the elderly.
O’Connor has been providing written updates on Biden’s illness and health, but has yet to publicly respond to questions about it.
The White House medical unit will continue to monitor Biden “closely,” O’Connor said.
First lady Jill Biden, who is in close contact with the president, tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday, her spokesman Michael LaRosa said. She is not experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 and continues to stay at their home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Thursday marked “Day 0” of the president’s Covid-19 schedule, meaning he will be in isolation until at least Tuesday, according to CDC guidelines.
But Fauci confirmed to CNN on Saturday that Biden will leave isolation after testing negative for Covid-19, which deviates from CDC guidelines.
“You have to really stick with the circumstances you’re in,” Fauci said. “The president is in a position to be able to test every day and wait until he’s negative before he comes back.” But that doesn’t mean everyone has to do it.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Arlette Saenz contributed to this report.
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