What We Know About Jill Biden's Second Bout Of COVID-19

They say that couples who have been married for many years start to look and sound alike, but the president and first lady are taking that concept too far. In July, President Biden battled a case of COVID-19, only to test positive again just days after his recovery, per the New York Post. Less than two weeks after that, Dr. Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 during a family trip to South Carolina. As per recommended protocol, she self-isolated in their vacation home until she tested negative twice. She was also given the antiviral drug Paxlovid, as is recommended by the CDC for individuals at risk of developing severe complications from the illness.

After her isolation period, the first lady joined the president in Delaware, only to discover on August 24 that she, too, had tested positive yet again for the virus (via CNN). The phenomenon of a positive test after Paxlovid treatment is called a "rebound" case. A researcher recently told Scientific American that a rebound happens in roughly 5 to 10 percent of cases, but that doesn't mean the medication isn't effective. While patients should still isolate themselves to avoid infecting others, they're unlikely to suffer serious symptoms or require hospitalization.

The president returned to the White House shortly before his wife's test results came back, and will be wearing a mask indoors for 10 days, per The New York Times. Dr. Biden's other close contacts have been notified of her condition.