Aug. 7 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden ended his isolation Sunday after testing negative for COVID-19 in back-to-back days, his physician announced in a letter Sunday.
For the first time in 17 days Biden left the White House, traving to Rehoboth Beach, Del., for a reunion with his wife, Jill Biden, at their home. They are scheduled to travel Monday to Kentucky after deadly floods in the eastern part of the state.
"I'm feeling good," the president told reporters as he prepared to board Marine One on Sunday.
"This morning, the President's SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing was negative for a second consecutive day," Dr. Kevin O'Connor wrote in the letter. He will safely return to public engagement and presidential travel."
The doctor said he tested negative Saturday.
Biden initially tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21 when he was first experiencing mild symptoms such as a sore throat and body aches. After five-day course of Pfizer's antiviral drug, Paxlovid, Biden tested negative July 27 three days later and resumed isolation.
While in isolation, the president was confined to the residential quarters but participated virtually in public events. From the Blue Room balcony, he announced a successful strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri Monday and signed two bills on COVID-19 relief fraud Friday.
According to the 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. Per CDC guidance, they can end their re-isolation period after five full days if fever has resolved for 24 hours (without the use of feverreducing medication) and symptoms are improving. The individual should wear a mask for a total of 10 days after rebound symptoms started.
Biden is fully vaccinated and received two booster shots, including the last one in March.