Six days ago, the White House reported that President Joe Biden had tested positive for COVID-19 and was displaying mild symptoms. Now the double-vaxxed, double-boosted president is headed back to the Oval Office with a negative test and a report that he’s feeling ready to be back at the Resolute Desk.
Throughout the past week, Biden continued working from his residence and indicated that he felt fine. On Wednesday, he stepped into the Rose Garden and (temporarily) removed his mask to provide the news that he made it through the infection “with no fear” thanks to the vaccines and the anti-viral treatments now available.
Biden said that he had only "a very mild discomfort because of these essential, lifesaving tools. And guess what? I want to remind everybody: They are free, they are convenient, they are safe, and they work." And the president didn’t miss the chance to point out that his predecessor didn’t come through COVID nearly so rapidly.
As part of his brief address, Biden had a few words about that guy who visited Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night to propose concentration camps for the poor. "When my predecessor got COVID,” said Biden, “he had to get helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center. He was severely ill; thankfully, he recovered. When I got COVID, I worked from upstairs of the White House and the offices upstairs ... for a five-day period.”
What’s the word? Burn.
During the past week, Biden has been able to stay in touch using the kind of remote tools that so many workers have experienced over the past two years. However, according to tech site The Verge, being president does mean having a pretty cool Zoom experience, with a 65-inch 4K screen with an integrated touchscreen and camera. Biden made good use of those tools to keep rolling over the past week, but he seems genuinely happy to put down the mouse and pick up his pen.
