Biden’s symptoms, Jha said, were “basically the same” as of Thursday night. “The symptoms were basically the same — again, he’s got a bit of a runny nose, he’s got a bit of a dry cough,” Jha said. Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, becoming the second US president to contract the virus during the two-and-a-half-year pandemic. In a video posted on Twitter, Biden told Americans he was “doing well” and was continuing to work while isolated in the White House. The President is fully vaccinated and twice boosted, and has been prescribed Paxlovid — Pfizer’s antiviral drug — because his advanced age puts him at high risk for serious illness. Biden is 79 years old. But to this point, Biden has experienced only mild symptoms, according to a statement from White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor and briefing by Ja and spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre on Thursday. The duo is expected to speak to reporters again on Friday afternoon. Tza said they still “don’t know much” about where the President contracted the virus, but said tracing of any close contacts of the President is underway. He said he was not aware of any subsequent cases. First Lady Jill Biden, who is considered a close contact but tested negative, will remain in Delaware over the weekend and “following (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines,” he said. Asked again if any of Biden’s symptoms were getting worse, Jha told CNN: “No. As of 10:00 p.m. last night, no. It was the same symptoms, about the same level of mildness. But I’ll be in touch with them (the White House medical unit) this morning, I will contact him this morning.” Tza downplayed concerns that the White House press corps has yet to be briefed directly by Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor after a reporter at Thursday’s briefing said the White House was playing a game of telephone. “Dr O’Connor is his personal physician. You have heard from Dr O’Connor in the letter. We are fully committed to transparency here. You will hear from Dr O’Connor every day via written communication. He was going to do his statement with that assessment of how the president is doing,” he said. He said many officials are in contact with Biden and “the American people will have a very complete picture of how the President is doing.” Pressed again by Berman about whether there were any plans to make O’Connor available to the press or the public, Jha said that O’Connor “will be sharing his information” and that “a variety of administration officials” will be sharing information. White House officials had been preparing for months for what many saw as an inevitability that Biden would come down with Covid. A wave of cases has swept Washington over the spring and summer, and as more of his top officials and family members came down with Covid, officials believed it was possible the President himself would fall ill, even as they took steps to protect him from the virus. Officials had a loose plan for the day Biden tested positive, including informing the public when the tests were confirmed and releasing a letter from Biden’s doctor — both of which took place Thursday.
