White House physician Dr. Sean P. Conley said that President Donald Trump’s health has continued to improve “over the past 24 hours,” days after he was first diagnosed with COVID-19.
He said it’s been “72 hours since his last fever,” his oxygen levels and breathing “are all normal,” and he had a recent temperature of 98.1 degrees F.
“He’s back,” Conley said, pointing to Trump’s activity in recent days and hours. “The president has been a phenomenal patient since he has been here,” Conley said.
“He has never pushed us beyond safe and reasonable practice,” Conley said.
As a result, doctors said that he will be given another dose of Remdesivir and is cleared to go home to the White House. Conley said his condition “supports a safe return home, where he'll be surrounded by world-class medical care.”
About 30 minutes before the update, Trump wrote that he is leaving Walter Reed hospital, located in Maryland, and is returning to the White House later on Monday.
“Every day a patient stays in the hospital is a risk to themselves,” Conley said, adding that doctors try to get a patient out of the hospital as soon as possible.
“The president has been surrounded by medical and security staff ... wearing full levels of PPE” for several days, Conley said, responding to a question from a reporter about why Trump was allowed to travel in an SUV and wave at supporters while wearing a mask.
“It’s in line with everything we’ve been doing upstairs for the last several days,” Conley said.
On Twitter, the president made the announcement that he will head back to the White House later in the day.
“I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good!” the president said in a statement. “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
On Sunday, Trump told viewers in a video that he “learned a lot about COVID” and “learned it by really going to school,” without elaborating.
It is unclear how long Trump will remain in isolation at the White House. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms can be contagious and should isolate for at least 10 days.
