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President Joe Biden’s doctor has given an update on the condition of the president after his COVID diagnosis.
“His symptoms continue to improve significantly,” White House doctor Kevin O’Connor said in his daily update. “His predominant symptom now is sore throat. This is most likely a result of lymphoid activation as his body clears the virus, and is thus encouraging.”
White House coronavirus response coordinator Ashish Jha gave a similar assessment on Sunday when he appeared on the CBS Show “Face The Nation.”
“I checked in with his team late last night,” he said to host Margaret Brennan. “He was feeling well. He had a good day yesterday. He’s got a viral syndrome, an upper respiratory infection, that is, and he’s doing just fine.”
“So we haven’t gotten any updates this morning, but through last night, he was feeling much, much better,” he said before Dr. O’Connor gave his assessment.
On Saturday, it was reported that the president is currently in isolation at the White House but did appear virtually on Friday for a meeting on gas prices where his incessant coughing caught people’s attention.
There was also a bag of cough drops visible next to the president, The New York Post reported.
“Let me start by apologizing — my voice. I’m feeling much better than I sound,” he said to start his speech.
“You know, we’re meeting today on gas prices, and we have some really good news: Gas prices are coming down.
“In fact, gas prices have fallen every day this summer for 38 days in a row. Now, you know, you can — you can find gas for $3.99 or less in more than 30,000 gas stations in more than 35 states. In some cities, it’s down almost a dollar from last month. We’ve been working really hard to bring the price down,” he said.
At around the 4:45 mark in the video the president had, what The Post called a “phlegmy cough,” as White House economist Cecilia Rouse was speaking.
The White House physician announced on Friday morning that President Joe Biden had a slightly elevated temperature on Thursday night but that “his symptoms have improved.”
Dr. Kevin O’Connor said Biden had a temperature of 99.4 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday evening, which has since returned to normal since he received Tylenol.
O’Connor said Biden still has a “runny nose and fatigue” as well as a “loose” and “occasional non-productive” cough.
O’Connor writes, “The President is tolerating treatment well. His symptoms are being treated with oral hydration, Tylenol, and an Albuterol inhaler as needed.”
“There has been nothing in the course of his illness thus far which give me cause to alter that initial expectation,” the president’s physician added.
Biden first tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday morning.
President Biden completed his first full day of Paxlovid and his symptoms have improved. A letter from Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Physician to the President, on these updates: pic.twitter.com/DWzA1iOiNs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2022
New: White House physician says President Biden's: "pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation remain entirely normal, on room air"
— Mark Meredith (@markpmeredith) July 22, 2022
Biden’s diagnosis has also concerned some top Democrats with November’s midterms just a few months out.
“There is a political concern here,” said one Democratic strategist, according to AOL. “Obviously, there’s the elephant in the room about how well he recovers. Does he have a pretty mild case, or does he have complications?”
Other Democrats worry Biden may have lingering effects from the virus that could last weeks or months — fueling concerns from many that the president is too old to be in office.
“There’s also some concern of making sure a 79-year-old president doesn’t look frail or doesn’t seem unhealthy,” the strategist said.
“People are more annoyed than worried” about his health, the person close to the White House said.
“What happens in the next week will be important,” another Democrat said. “He needs to get outside moving around.”
After Biden was diagnosed with COVID, social media users responded with speculation that the United States could be on the precipice of Vice President Kamala Harris becoming president.
“President Harris would somehow be worse than President Biden. Scary times we’re living in,” Brigitte Gabriel said.
President Harris would somehow be worse than President Biden. Scary times we're living in.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) July 21, 2022
“A 79 year old man with covid and possibly cancer is the only thing that separates us from a President Harris,” Harrison Krank said.
A 79 year old man with covid and possibly cancer is the only thing that separates us from a President Harris
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) July 21, 2022
“Reports are that Joe Biden has COVID. Wishing him a quick recovery. The United States cannot handle one single day with President Harris in office,” Nick Adams said.
Reports are that Joe Biden has COVID. Wishing him a quick recovery. The United States cannot handle one single day with President Harris in office.
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) July 21, 2022
Get ready, America pic.twitter.com/4ekmfk37BL
— No Cap Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 21, 2022
“Get ready, America,” Jack Posobiec said with a photo of Harris.
