President Joe Biden is likely to have been infected with the BA.5 omicron subvariant of COVID-19, which is currently the most dominant strain of the virus in the US, your doctor wrote in a memo on Saturday.
Kevin O’Connor, physician to the president, wrote in the memo that Biden’s symptoms “continue to improve.” Though “less problematic,” O’Connor said Biden’s symptoms now include a sore throat, a runny nose, a loose cough and body aches. The president will continue his treatment of the antiviral drug Paxlovid.
“He does not experience shortness of breath at all,” O’Connor’s memo says.
Biden, 79, tested positive for the virus on Thursday. He will continue to work and isolate at the White House until he tests negative, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Biden has no public events on his schedule on Saturday and Sunday.
In a video address posted on social media Thursday afternoon, Biden assured the nation that he is doing well and is still working.
“Hey folks, I guess you heard. This morning I tested positive for COVID,” Biden said at the 21 second video. “But I have been double vaccinated, double reinforced. The symptoms are mild.”
“In the meantime, thank you for your concern,” the president added. “And keep the faith. It’s going to be OK.”
Collaboration: Maureen Groppe
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden likely has COVID subvariant BA.5, White House doctor says