WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden doubtless contracted a extremely contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading quickly via america, and now has physique aches and a sore throat since his constructive check, in keeping with an replace from his physician on Saturday.
The variant, referred to as BA.5, is an offshoot of the omicron pressure that emerged late final yr, and it’s believed to be accountable for the overwhelming majority of coronavirus instances within the nation.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in his newest replace on Biden’s situation that Biden’s earlier signs, together with a runny nostril and a cough, have turn into “much less troublesome.” O’Connor’s earlier notes didn’t point out the sore throat or physique aches.
Biden’s very important indicators, resembling blood stress and respiratory charge, “stay completely regular,” and his oxygen saturation ranges are “glorious” with “no shortness of breath in any respect,” the physician wrote.
O’Connor stated the outcomes of the preliminary sequencing that indicated the BA.5 variant don’t have an effect on Biden’s remedy plan “in any approach.”
Biden examined constructive for the virus on Thursday morning. He has been isolating within the White Home residence since then. Administration officers have emphasised that his signs are delicate as a result of he has obtained 4 vaccine doses, and he began taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid after changing into contaminated.
Throughout a digital assembly with financial advisers on Friday, Biden was hoarse however insisted, “I really feel significantly better than I sound.”
In his earlier replace on Biden’s well being, O’Connor stated the president had an elevated temperature of 99.4 F on Thursday night, but it surely returned to regular after taking Tylenol.
Story by Chris Megerian.
