WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President Joe Biden likely contracted a of the coronavirus spreading rapidly through the United States, and now has body aches and a sore throat since his , according to on Saturday.
The variant, known as BA.5, is that emerged late last year, and it's believed to be responsible for the vast majority of coronavirus cases in the country.
Dr. Kevin O鈥機onnor, the president鈥檚 physician, wrote in his latest update on Biden's condition that Biden's earlier symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough, have become 鈥渓ess troublesome.鈥� O'Connor's earlier notes did not mention the sore throat or body aches.
Biden's vital signs, such as blood pressure and respiratory rate, 鈥渞emain entirely normal,鈥� and his oxygen saturation levels are 鈥渆xcellent鈥� with 鈥渘o shortness of breath at all," the doctor wrote.
O'Connor said the results of the preliminary sequencing that indicated the BA.5 variant do not affect Biden's treatment plan 鈥渋n any way.鈥�
Biden tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning. He has been isolating in the White House residence since then. Administration officials have emphasized that his symptoms are mild because he has received four vaccine doses, and he started taking the antiviral drug after becoming infected.
During a virtual meeting with economic advisers on Friday, Biden was hoarse but insisted, 鈥淚 feel much better than I sound.鈥�
In his previous update on Biden鈥檚 health, O鈥機onnor said the president had an elevated temperature of 99.4 F on Thursday evening, but it returned to normal after taking Tylenol.
Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
