By Kevin Liptak and Donald Judd, CNN
President Joe Biden is “feeling good” as his COVID-19 symptoms begin to fade, he said Monday, projecting an undeniable bout with a disease that continues to infect millions of Americans.
“I sleep two full nights,” he told reporters, who asked him questions after attending a video concoction from the White House residence.
“In fact, my dog had to wake me up this morning,” he continued, hinting at his Covid isolation. “My wife is rarely very there, she takes her in the morning while I exercise upstairs, so I felt that nose. “of my dog opposite my chest about seven hours minus five. “
“I feel good, my voice is hoarse,” he continued.
Earlier Monday, Biden’s doctor said his symptoms had “almost resolved” after five days of illness.
“Questioned, at this point, he notes residual nasal congestion and minimal hoarseness,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in a letter revealing his condition.
It was an improvement over the weekend, when O’Connor said Biden was suffering from a sore throat, body aches and a rainy cough. Seen participating in a virtual assembly on Friday, Biden cleared his throat several times and had a loud, harsh voice.
The grater hadn’t completely faded away by Monday, though Biden confided in reporters it was “normal. “
The president said he participated in a battery of tests each and every night, checking “each and every thing, from the temperature to the oxygen in my blood and my pulse. “
“So far, so good, I mean, it’s all on the button,” he said.
O’Connor said in his letter that Biden’s pulse, breathing rate and temperature were general, as they remained his illness, according to his doctor, and that his oxygen saturation was “excellent” in the ambient air. He has no difficulty breathing, O’Connor said.
Biden tested positive for covid last Thursday and resisted the disease from the White House residence. He canceled his trip to Florida this week, but will participate in virtual events on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, the president made sure to note that he “maintains a full schedule” while isolating himself, adding “four major events today. “
“I don’t stick with the same schedules, but you know, I meet all my needs that came before me, and we also make decisions on a lot of other issues,” he said.
Inside his residence, Biden spoke with advisers by phone and held video meetings. But his wife, who tested negative for covid on Monday, was absent from their home in Delaware and internal construction staff were reduced to restrict exposure.
Biden, 79, is “particularly conscientious” in protecting apartment staff, White House officials and the Secret Service worker corps from the virus, which has been decided to be the highly transmissible BA. 5 variant, O’Connor wrote in his letter. BA. 5 is now the main strain of the virus in the United States.
Another doctor, Dr. Ashish Jha, Covid response coordinator, briefed reporters on Biden’s status later on Monday. Jha did not directly treat the president, but told him about his illness.
None of those in close contact with Biden have tested positive for COVID-19, Jha told reporters.
“ThereArray. . . 17 other people who were known as possible close contacts, all were, of course, informed. They all are— they stick to all CDC guidelines, and earlier in the day, none of them, none of the other 17 people had tested positive,” Jha said.
O’Connor has yet to speak directly to reporters about the president’s status, and the White House has not provided the main points about Biden’s illness beyond O’Connor’s memos.
The White House tried to point out that Biden’s symptoms were mild because he was vaccinated and reinforced, and he began the paxlovid antiviral remedy as soon as he tested positive. O’Connor said in his letter that Biden concluded his fourth full paxlovid day on Sunday.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was considered a close contact with Biden last week, tested negative for covid on Monday before traveling to Indiana for an event focused on abortion access.
This story has been updated with more reports and information.
El-CNN-Wire™
Already have an account? Click to log in.
Fill in the form fields below to finish your registration.
Don’t have an account? Click to register.
Enter your email address to retrieve your username and/or reset your password. Click here to return to the login page.
Update your password below. Click here to return to your profile.