Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that he ‘doubts’ Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 yet after the president said he hopes to be back working in person by the end of the week.
‘He’s feeling really, very well,’ Dr. Fauci told CNN‘s New Day on Tuesday morning when asked about the president’s condition. ‘In fact each day he improved more and more, to the point now where he really does feel quite well.’
Fauci said that White House Physician Kevin O’Connor told him Monday evening that Biden has now completed five days of his PAXLOVID treatment.
During an event on Monday, where Biden joined virtually, he told reporters that he plans to be able to work in-person by the end of the week after initial diagnosis of coronavirus on Thursday.
‘I hope I am back in person by the end of this week,’ Biden said. ‘But, as you know, I have been keeping a full schedule.’
Dr. Anthony Fauci (right) told CNN Tuesday morning that he ‘doubts’ President Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID-19 yet after his Thursday diagnosis
‘I’ve done four major events today and I didn’t start today until 9:30. But I’ll finish today… about 6:30,’ he continued. ‘I’m not keeping the same hours, but I’m meeting all the requirements that came before me.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in December shortened the guidelines for the recommended isolation period, saying individuals only need to isolate for five days following initial diagnosis.
The next time Americans see Biden in public, he may be masked up in accordance with CDC guidance.
‘People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter,’ the guidance released in late December 2021 notes.
When Fauci was asked Tuesday whether Biden has yet tested negative for COVID-19, he said: ‘I doubt it, to be honest with you.’
‘It would be unusual to test negative so quickly,’ the top National Institutes of Health (NIH) immunologist added.
President Biden said during a Monday event that he hopes to be back working in person by the end of the week
Biden told reporters Monday he was ‘feeling great’ as he continues to isolate at the White House after testing positive for COVID-19, claiming that his dog Commander has taken on wake-up duty with first lady Jill Biden away.
‘I’m feeling great,’ Biden said when asked how he was feeling at the end of an event on boosting the semiconductor industry, saying his voice was still ‘raspy.’
‘You know I’ve had two nights of sleep all the way through,’ he continued.
‘Matter of fact, my dog had to wake me up this morning. My wife’s not here. She usually takes him out in the morning while I’m upstairs working out and so I felt this nozzle of my dog’s nose against my chest about five minutes or seven,’ Biden said. First lady Jill Biden flew to the family home in Wilmington after Biden’s positive test came in last week.
‘I’m feeling good. My voice is still raspy,’ he added.
All 17 of the people considered close contacts to Biden have not tested positive for COVID-19 – including Jill and Vice President Kamala Harris.