Calling it now: He’s slowly working up to dropping out without “losing face”
Step one: Casually mention in an interview that you’d consider dropping if a health reason popped up. Step two: Coincidentally, get a health issue shortly afterwards. Step three: Casually make it known that you’re “more open” to call to step aside.
It’s not a coincidence that he got COVID and made the health comment within a day of each other. I’m not saying he doesn’t have COVID. I’m saying he and his team knew about earlier than they announced it, and decided to drop that nugget in an interview beforehand in order to pave the way.