WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden’s symptoms from Covid have improved, his doctor said on Friday, one day after he tested positive for the virus as a highly contagious sub-variant drove a new wave of cases in the United States.

A letter released from the White House physician, Kevin O’Connor, said the President ran a slight temperature of 37.4 C on Thursday night, but he responded favourably to Tylenol and that he was breathing normally.

“His voice is deeper this morning. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation remain normal, on room air,” he said.

White House Covid coordinator Dr Ashish Jha told CNN that Joe Biden was doing fine and that his mild symptoms were basically the same. He has a runny nose, fatigue and occasional dry cough, said O’Connor.

Biden tested positive for Covid on Thursday, when the White House said he was experiencing mild symptoms and would continue working but in isolation.

On Friday, as the White House sought to convey a sense of normalcy, it released another photo of Biden signing legislation a day earlier wearing a black mask.

O’Connor said two medicines that Biden takes, Eliquis for atrial fibrillation and cholesterol drug Crestor, are being held back temporarily to avoid interfering with his treatment course of the antiviral drug Paxlovid. He said low-dose aspirin is being added to Biden’s treatment as an alternative blood thinner.

“The president is tolerating treatment well,” he said.

Biden, who at 79 is the oldest person ever to serve as president of the United States, is due to hold three virtual meetings with his staff this weekend, including his economic, legislative and national security aides.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2022