Donald Trump’s vital signs are “very worrying,” reports say; The White House says the president of the United States is doing ‘very well’

Donald Trump leaves the White House to be admitted for COVID-19 treatment on Friday. AP

President Donald Trump’s doctor on Saturday painted an upbeat picture of the president’s health as he remains hospitalized for coronavirus treatment. But that assessment was immediately contradicted by a person familiar with Trump’s condition, who said the president was given supplemental oxygen Friday at the White House.

In addition, Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said the president went through a “very worrying” period on Friday and that the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his attention.

The briefing by Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley and other physicians at Walter Reed Medical Center raised more questions than it answered, as the president’s physician left the question of whether the president needed supplemental oxygen and was hazy. He refused to discuss exactly when he got sick. Conley, in his briefing, also revealed that Trump began displaying “clinical indications” of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon, earlier than known.

According to the person familiar with Trump’s condition, Trump was administered oxygen at the White House on Friday before being transferred to the military hospital. The person, who was not authorized to speak in public and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity,

Conley had said Trump has been fever-free for 24 hours while updating the nation on Walter Reed’s president’s condition on Saturday afternoon. Trump was admitted Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus and has been in treatment.

While Conley said the president is not currently on oxygen, he declined to say whether the president has ever taken oxygen, despite repeated questioning.

“Thursday without oxygen. None at this time. And yesterday with the team, while we were all here, he was not on oxygen, “he said. He said Trump’s symptoms, including coughing and nasal congestion, “are now resolving and improving.”

“He’s in a really good mood,” said another doctor, Sean Dooley.

The administration has been consistently less than transparent about the president’s health as the virus spreads within the White House. The aides had refused to share basic information about the president’s health, including a full description of his symptoms, the tests that were performed and the results. The first word that a close associate of Trump had been infected came from the media, not the White House.

In a memo posted shortly before midnight, Conley reported that Trump had been treated in hospital with remdesivir, an antiviral drug, after taking another experimental drug at the White House. He added that Trump “is doing very well” and “does not need supplemental oxygen.”

Conley, the White House doctor, declined to say when Trump was last tested before he was confirmed to have COVID-19 on Thursday night. It initially suggested that Trump had 72 hours left to diagnose, putting confirmation of the infection at Wednesday. Conley later clarified that Trump was administered an accurate test for the virus Thursday afternoon, after White House aide Hope Hicks was confirmed positive and Trump exhibited unspecified “clinical indications” of the virus. virus.

The White House said Trump was expected to stay in the hospital for “a few days” and that he would continue to work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to fulfill his official duties. In addition to accessibility to tests and equipment, the decision was made, at least in part, on the understanding that moving it later, if it got worse, could send a worrying signal.

On Saturday, Conley said Trump’s blood oxygen level is 96%, which is in the normal range. Trump has been treated with two experimental drugs, administered intravenously, that have shown promise against COVID-19. On Friday, he was administered a single dose of a drug that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. is testing to deliver antibodies that help his immune system fight the virus.

On Friday night, he began a five-day treatment with remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for patients with moderate and severe illnesses. Medications work in different ways: Antibodies help the immune system remove the virus from the body, and remdesivir slows the virus’ ability to multiply. “We are maximizing all aspects of your care,” attacking the virus in multiple ways, Conley said. “She didn’t want to withhold anything if there was any chance that she would add value to her care.”