Biden's Covid symptoms 'almost completely resolved,' doctor says

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s Covid symptoms had "almost completely resolved" as he made his first public appearance in three days with a virtual meeting Monday.

"His symptoms have now almost completely resolved," the White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said in a letter released Monday. "When questioned, at this point he only notes some residual nasal congestion and minimal hoarseness. "

Biden said during a virtual event Monday that he was feeling better and hoped to be back to work in person by the end of the week. He said he was keeping with his regular schedule and expected to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

"I am feeling great, had two nights of sleep. Dog had to wake me up, my wife’s not here," Biden said. First lady Jill Biden tested negative for Covid as recently as Sunday.

Biden will continue to isolate at the White House for at least five days from his diagnosis, and he will leave isolation only when he has had a negative Covid test, the White House has said. Tuesday will be Biden’s fifth day since infection.

O’Connor said that Biden’s pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain “absolutely normal” and that his lungs remain clear. He will continue taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid and low-dose aspirin as an alternative to his prescription blood thinner.

“The President is responding to therapy as expected,” O’Connor said.

Biden completed his fourth full day of Paxlovid on Sunday night, O'Connor said. The treatment is typically given twice a day for five days.

The White House has identified 17 people as close contacts to Biden, and none of them had tested positive as of Monday afternoon, said the White House Covid response coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha.

Biden made his first public appearance in three days Monday afternoon during a virtual meeting with CEOs and labor leaders to discuss the importance of passing legislation to bolster the U.S. computer chip sector, the White House said. He also delivered recorded remarks to a meeting of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

The last public appearance from Biden, who tested positive Thursday, was Friday afternoon, when he made virtual remarks to his economic team. The White House didn’t release any updated videos or photos of the president over the weekend.