By Ronny Reyes.
President Joe Biden says he’s ‘feeling fine’ after he joined the growing number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 days after finishing their course of Paxlovid, a powerful anti-viral treatment.
At least one prominent physician has warned that up to 40 percent of those who take a course of Paxlovid, end up testing positive for the virus again within 30 days.
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a prominent cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University Hospital, tweeted: ‘I think this was predictable.’
The doctor continued: ‘The prior data suggesting ‘rebound’ Paxlovid positivity in the low single digits is outdates and with BA.5 is likely 20-40% or even higher.’
Some experts have said that the current treatment cycle of taking three pills twice a day for five days is too short a time period to clear Covid from the patient’s body.
In a memo released on Saturday, Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said the president is experiencing no new symptoms and ‘continues to feel quite well.’
O’Connor had warned of the possibility of a testing ‘rebound,’ which could occur on a small percentage of patients who, like Biden, used the antiviral medication Paxlovid as part of their treatment against COVID.
On Saturday afternoon, Biden, 79, tweeted: ‘Folks, today I tested positive for COVID again. This happens with a small minority of folks.
‘I’ve got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me.
‘I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.’
Later in the afternoon, he posted a 12-second video ‘quick update’ on his condition, delivered from the White House with his dog, Commander, sitting near him. And I’m feel fine, everything’s good. But Commander and I got a little work to do.
‘Hey folks, Joe Biden here,’ the President says in the video. ‘Tested positive this morning. Going to be working from home for the next couple days. And I’m feeling fine too, everything’s good. But Commander and I got a little work to do.’
Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the White House’s Covid-19 response coordinator, has denied that the Paxlovid rebound numbers are nearly 50 percent.
The doctor maintained that the actual percentage of reinfections is ‘in the single digits.’
Dr. Jha said: ‘When people have rebound, they don’t end up in the hospital. They don’t end up particularly sick,’ according to the New York Times.
He added: ‘Paxlovid is working really well at preventing serious illness, rebound or no rebound, and that’s why he was offered it. And that’s why the president took it.’
Biden also tweeted an image of himself wearing a black mask, looking directly at the camera, while signing a declaration to ‘expedite support to flooding survivors’ in Kentucky.
At least 25 people have died — including four children — in the devastating floods unleashed by torrential rainfall that swept through homes, washed out roads and pushed rivers over their banks, authorities said.
‘I’m taking more action to help the families being displaced and lives lost due to the flooding in Kentucky. Today, I added Individual Assistance to the Major Disaster declaration I approved to expedite support to flooding survivors,’ the President tweeted.
‘Today, I added Individual Assistance to the Major Disaster declaration I approved to expedite support to flooding survivors.’