Biden continues to isolate with COVID as questions swirl around his candidacy

President Biden is on day three of his isolation, following his COVID diagnosis. While isolating in his Delaware home, Biden has faced a barrage of calls to step aside, peaking on Friday when 12 Democratic lawmakers joined the list.

The president tested positive for the virus on Wednesday while on the campaign trail in Nevada. He presented with mild symptoms, and was put on a course of Paxlovid, a COVID treatment, which he is still on.

“President Biden completed his sixth dose of PAXLOVID this morning,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in a White House letter. “He is still experiencing a loose, non-productive cough and hoarseness, but his symptoms continue to improve steadily.”

Anthony Fauci, Biden’s former chief medical advisor, told CNN on Thursday that taking the treatment was the “right decision” to help with recovery given the president’s age.

O’Connor also reported that they determined the president is carrying the KP .2.3 variant, which he wrote accounts for approximately a third of all new infections in the country according to the CDC. 

While the president recovers, the calls for him to forgo the 2024 Democratic nomination have only accelerated. Updates on the party’s internal division were momentarily cooled following the assassination attempt on former president Trump.

 However, after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention, 12 Democratic legislators called for Biden to step aside on Friday alone. Rep. Takano (D-Calif.) became the latest to make a statement on Saturday. Reports also emerged that major campaign donors threatened to pull planned donations to his campaign.

There is no announcement yet of when the president plans to make his public return and complete his isolation. 

He is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sometime this week as Netanyahu travels to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. The Biden camp has maintained that the president’s health is a top priority.