“This morning, the president’s SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing was negative for a second consecutive day,” presidential physician Kevin O’Connor wrote in a letter Sunday. “He will safely return to public engagement and presidential travel.”
Biden tested negative on an antigen test Saturday as well, but remained in isolation until Sunday morning before departing for Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Departing the White House for Rehoboth Beach, the President told reporters he was “feeling good,” saying, “After 18 days, I’m clear!”
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “People with recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative should restart isolation and isolate again for at least 5 days.”
The CDC issued a health alert to doctors on May 24 advising that Covid-19 symptoms sometimes come back, and that may just be how the infection plays out in some people, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated or treated with medications such as Paxlovid. The CDC said that most rebound cases involve mild disease and that there have been no reports of serious illness.
Biden is fully vaccinated and received two booster shots. He received his first two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine ahead of his inauguration in January 2021, his first booster shot in September and his second booster vaccination in March.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Sunday.