Biden ends isolation at White House after rebound case of COVID-19

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden ended his isolation and left the White House Sunday for the first time in 18 days after recovering from a mild rebound case of COVID-19.

“I’m feeling great,” he told reporters on the White South Lawn as he departed for Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he owns a beach house.

Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, said in a memo Biden tested negative Saturday but would remain in isolation pending the results of a second negative test. There was no immediate word from the White House on whether Biden tested negative again on Sunday.

Biden, who is fully vaccinated and double boosted, had been isolating inside the White House since July 30 after testing positive in what O’Connor called a “rebound case” of the coronavirus. Patients treated with the antiviral medication Paxlovid sometimes experience a rebound case of COVID-19.

Biden, 79, first tested positive on July 21. He briefly ended his isolation after testing negative on July 27, but went back into isolation three days later after testing positive again.

The president continued to work throughout his illness, holding virtual events and making some public appearances at the White House while practicing social distancing.

He and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to southeastern Kentucky on Monday to meet with families affected by recent flooding that ravaged the region.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.

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