Although rare, “rebound” cases following treatment with an anti-viral drug are possible and President Joe Biden is the latest example of that. The President tested positive for COVID-19 again Saturday. This news comes slightly more than three days after he was cleared to exit coronavirus isolation, according to the White House.
According to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden “has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and continues to feel quite well.” O’Connor says, “there is no reason to reinitiate treatment at this time.”
Biden tweeted a 12-second video on a White House balcony with his dog, Commander, to let everyone know he was doing fine amid the rebound case.
“I’m feeling fine, everything is good,” says Biden. “But Commander and I got a little work to do.”
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Biden was previously experiencing “mild symptoms”, which included a runny nose, fatigue and an occasional dry cough.
Those symptoms were “completely resolved” after the President completed a five-day course of Paxlovid (an antiviral pill used to treat COVID-19), according to O’Connor, who had been treating Biden.
Why do rebound cases occur?
Due to the chances for “rebound” COVID in some patients taking Paxlovid, Biden continued to be tested as a precaution.
After testing negative, Biden returned to holding in-person indoor events and meetings with staff at the White House while wearing a mask, which is in accordance with CDC guidelines. However, he removed his mask indoors when delivering remarks on Thursday and during a meeting with CEOs on the White House complex.
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Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says social distancing was in place when the President did take his mask off.
“They were socially distanced. They were far enough apart. So we made it safe for them to be together, to be on that stage,” she shares.
Regulators are still studying the prevalence and virulence of rebound cases, however, the CDC warned doctors in May that
