Dr. Kevin O‘Connor says President Biden does not have a fever and that his vital signs are ’normal.’
President Joe Biden’s White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, released a letter on July 18 with an update on the president’s COVID-19 symptoms after he tested positive the day before.
“The President is still experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms associated with his recent COVID-19 infection. He continues to receive Paxlovid,” Dr. O’Connor said.
“He does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal. He will continue to conduct the business of the American people. With the President’s permission, I will continue to provide regular updates, as we have done before.”
President Biden tested positive for the virus prior to a planned speech at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas. He canceled his remaining events and immediately boarded Air Force One to return to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes,” President Biden said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after his positive test.
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time, I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a July 17 statement that President Biden will self-isolate at his Delaware home, where he will “continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.”
In an interview with Ed Gordon of BET News that was taped on July 16 in Las Vegas but aired on the evening of July 17, President Biden said he would only withdraw from the presidential race if doctors informed him of a relevant medical condition.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged,” President Biden said in response to whether there was anything that might change his mind regarding his candidacy. “If doctors came to me and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.’”
The president also acknowledged concerns about his age and mental fitness after his first debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27.
“I made a serious mistake in the whole debate,” he said.
President Biden tested positive for the virus a day after the interview. His staff said on July 17 that his remaining events in Las Vegas are canceled while he quarantines in Delaware.
During a July 18 news conference in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention, the Biden campaign reiterated the president’s intention to stay in the race.
“Our campaign is not working through any scenarios where President Biden is not the top of the ticket. He is and will be the Democratic nominee,” Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks told reporters.