President Joe Biden's COVID-19 symptoms "continue to improve steadily" according to a Saturday statement released by his doctor, physician to the president Kevin O'Connor.
New information based on genomic sequencing reveals that the president contracted the SARS-CoV-2 KP.2.3 variant, which according to the CDC and the White House accounts for around 33.3% of new U.S. infections.
As in previous reports from the president's doctor in recent days, President Biden's pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature continue to remain normal, according to his doctor. Dr. O'Connor said Saturday that the president's lungs remain clear.
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Dr. O'Connor said President Biden received his sixth dose of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid on Saturday morning and said he continues to tolerate treatment well and will continue with Paxlovid treatments "as planned."
The doctor said President Biden is continuing to perform all of his presidential duties.
As Scripps News reported this week, the COVID-19 positivity rate hit 15.6% in a group of states including Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawaii, based on CDC data.
Across the nation, positive COVID-19 tests increased to 11% — a jump of nearly 2 percentage points compared to the previous week. Emergency department visits increased slightly from 1.1 % to 1.3%.
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President Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 after he reported experiencing mild symptoms during a campaign stop in Nevada.
Last week, reporters at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas said the president leaned out of the window of the presidential state car, known as "The Beast," and gave the press a thumbs-up.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president is vaccinated and boosted.
