On Wednesday, the White House reported that President Joe Biden had twice tested negative for Covid-19. The news was welcome but expected. When Biden first tested positive a few days ago, his having been vaccinated and boosted, combined with his access to the nation’s best doctors and latest treatments, nearly guaranteed him an uneventful acute illness course.
Indeed, before his quick recovery, the White House had reported that the president was feeling well and that his case was “mild.” But even with his latest test results, Biden is still at risk of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection, commonly known as long Covid, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found about one-fifth of Covid patients now have. One study found that up to a third of these Covid outpatients who didn’t require hospitalization were continuing to report long Covid symptoms nine months after the acute phase.
Medical professionals have made it clear that the illness, whether mild or severe, is best treated by taking a break from the stress of work.
Though there is still much to learn about it, we know that inadequate rest can increase the risk of developing long Covid, the symptoms of which can be debilitating and are as diverse as prolonged fatigue, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, headaches and joint pain. While we don’t completely understand the triggers of long Covid, research suggests the onset could be linked to persistent inflammation in the body.
That’s why I write with this simple request: Mr. President, please rest.
Yet the images that emerged of the Covid-positive president showed us just the opposite: a man at work rather than one taking time off to treat his condition. No doubt these visuals were calculated to demonstrate that Biden is strong and healthy to thwart the never-ending ageist criticism he faces, to reinforce the efficacy of the Covid vaccines against extreme illness and to broadcast to our enemies that the commander in chief is still up to the job.
But the president sent a different message to Americans here at home, and it’s one that has a dark underside. Instead of taking time off during the course of his disease, he modeled the toxic work culture of “pushing through illness.” While that ethos may be as American as apple pie, it’s also dangerous … especially in the context of Covid.
Medical professionals have made it clear that the illness, whether mild or severe,…
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