President Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said Saturday morning that Trump is “doing very well” and has been without a fever for 24 hours.
Conley gave an update on the president’s health outside of Walter Reed Medical Center along with nine other medical personnel.
“At this time, the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made,” Conley said. “Thursday he had a mild cough and some nasal congestion, fatigue, all of which are now resolving and improving.”
Conley added that Trump has been fever-free for over 24 hours and has not needed any supplemental oxygen thus far.
Though Trump announced his diagnosis on Thursday night, Conley said during the conference that Trump had first tested positive 72 hours ago. If accurate, this means that the president could have exposed many people to the virus at a fundraiser he hosted in Bedminster, N.J. on Thursday. However, White House officials later clarified that Conley meant to say day three, not 72 hours, which is consistent with the timeline they have presented so far.
Dr. Sean Dooley also commented on Trump’s health, sharing that the president is in “exceptionally good spirits” and said to him this morning, “I feel like I could walk out of here today.”
Dr. Ben Garibaldi offered insight on the treatments the president is undergoing, which include antibody therapy and the antiviral medication Remdesivir.
“About 48 hours ago, the president received a special antibody therapy directed against the coronavirus and we’re working very closely with the company to monitor him in terms of that outcome. Yesterday evening, he received his first dose of Remdesivir, and our plan is to continue a five day treatment course for Remdesivir,” Garibaldi said. “And the big plan for today, since he’s in such good spirits and doing well, is to encourage him to eat, to drink, to stay hydrated, to be up out of bed and to be working and doing the things he needs to do to get well.”
Conley also confirmed that first lady Melania Trump does not require hospitalization at this time, though the president will remain at Walter Reed until he is discharged.
Since Trump and Melania announced their positive COVID-19 diagnoses on Thursday night, a handful of White House aides and Republican politicians have also tested positive for the virus. This includes former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien, Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, senior counselor Hope Hicks and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The spread of the infection is suspected to have occurred during a Rose Garden event on Sept. 26, during which Amy Coney Barrett was announced as Trump’s Supreme Court nomination. Trump, Melania, Conway, Tillis and Lee, as well as University of Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins, were all at the event and have since tested positive for COVID-19.