WASHINGTON (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden’s Covid symptoms improved on Friday after completing his first full day of treatment on the antiviral Paxlovid. However, his doctor said Friday he continues to have a runny nose, fatigue, and “loose” cough.
Writing in a letter, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor said Biden had a temperature of 99.4 degrees Thursday night but went down after receiving Tylenol. His blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation “remain entirely normal, on room air,” he wrote.
The President had several virtual meetings on Friday, including his daily intelligence briefing and a meeting with this economic team to discuss gas prices. During the meeting with his economic team, Biden sounded hoarse and cleared his throat several times.
“Let me start by apologizing for my voice, I’m feeling much better than I sound,” Biden said.
President Biden continued working from the White House this morning, including speaking by phone with his national security team. pic.twitter.com/jdQkoDtupR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2022
Biden then gave a smile and a thumbs up when reporters in the auditorium asked how he was feeling.
O’Connor wrote he expects and anticipates that Biden will respond favorably to the course of treatment. The White House confirmed Friday that the media and the American people will continue to be updated on the President’s condition over the weekend.
“As I stated previously, the President is fully vaccinated and twice-boosted, so I anticipate that he will respond favorably, as most maximally protected patients do,” O’Connor wrote. “There has been nothing in the course of the illness thus far which gives me cause to alter that initial expectation.”
Biden has stopped his cholesterol-lowering medication Crestor and blood thinner Eliquis as a precaution while on Paxlovid.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that 17 individuals from members of Congress to senior White House staff have been informed they are a close contact with of President. First lady Jill Biden has had no symptoms and is currently spending time at the couple’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.
