President Joe Biden left the White House for the first time since contracting COVID-19 in July, traveling to Delaware where First Lady Jill Biden has been residing.
Biden tested negative for the virus on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7. The president contracted what the White House described as a breakthrough infection on July 30, promoting his return to isolation.
Biden told reporters he is “feeling great” as he boarded Air Force One on Aug. 7.
His physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, wrote that Biden is now well enough to “return to public engagement and presidential travel” in a memo to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The president frequently travels back to his home state of Delaware, where he and his wife have two private residences. During his first year in office, Biden made 31 trips to the state – spending the majority of his weekend in either Wilmington or Rehoboth Beach.
Additionally, Biden spent over 10 weekends at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
While the White House does release its visitor logs, former Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in August of 2021 that the president’s administration would not release “information about the comings and goings” of people who visit Biden’s Delaware homes. Psaki cited the privacy of his grandchildren.
The president does conduct official business at times while in Deleware. Biden has hosted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia at his home to discuss pending legislation.
The Bidens left Delaware for Kentucky on Aug. 8, where they visited communities damaged by severe flooding. At least 37 people died after extreme rain hit the eastern region of that state. Search teams rescued over 1,300 people in the days after the storm which brought 8 to 10.5 inches of rainfall.
The president has authorized an increase in federal funding for emergency work being carried out in the five impacted counties. FEMA currently reports a total of 12 counties are eligible for assistance, per KPTV.
Residents in the area are currently being warned about thunderstorms, scheduled to reach eastern Kentucky by Aug. 11.
Jill Biden has been residing in Delaware since the president tested positive for COVID-19. She never tested positive for the virus.
Biden initially tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21 and was given the anti-viral treatment Paxlovid. He is fully vaccinated and received a booster shot in March.
After finishing his initial isolation on July 27, Biden delivered a speech in the Rose Garden thanking the White House medical team for his care.
“My symptoms were mild. My recovery was quick,” he said. He urged Americans to “take precautions” to try and slow the spread of BA.5, the latest COVID-19 variant.
