Joe Biden

He's tested positive for COVID-19 for the second straight day, in what appears to be a rare case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug.

White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor said in a letter that Biden "has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and continues to feel quite well."

The statement marked the first time the U.S. government has publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of Griner, who was arrested on drug-related charges at a Moscow airport in February and testified Wednesday at her trial.

The White House said that President Biden is deliberating whether to extend the pause on federal student loan payments beyond Aug. 31 and forgive a portion of student debt per borrower.

Biden spoke publicly Wednesday to a round of applause, telling Americans that “COVID isn't gone” but that serious illness can be avoided with vaccines, booster shoots and treatments.

Officials emphasized that Biden's symptoms are mild because he received four vaccine doses and started taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid after becoming infected.

The BA.5 COVID-19 strain is an offshoot of the omicron strain and is spreading rapidly right now through the United States.

The president has “very mild” symptoms and is taking Paxlovid, the drug used to treat COVID-19, according to the White House.

“Let me be clear,” Biden said. "Climate change is an emergency, and in the coming weeks I’m going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal, official government actions.

Biden's executive order comes as the ongoing detention in Russia of WNBA star Brittney Griner has brought increased attention to the population of Americans who are jailed abroad and designated by the U.S. as wrongfully detained.

The White House says the U.S.-Mexico relationship is a priority and that the countries plan to announce joint actions to improve infrastructure along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border.