Conflicting Views on Trump’s Covid Progress

White House physician Sean Conley has said the president is “fine” in providing a substantial first update on President Donald Trump’s health since he was admitted to the hospital Friday night after contracting Covid-19.

“Right now, the team and I are very happy with the progress,” he said. Trump originally had a fever and cough, “all of which are resolving and improving.”

“He has been fever-free for more than 24 hours … we remain cautiously optimistic, but he is doing very well.”

However, while Conley said Trump’s condition was improving, a source close to the president gave a more negative note in comments to the press shortly after the medical briefing.

“The president’s vital signs during the last 24 hours were very worrying and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We are not yet on a clear path to a full recovery. “

Conley said Trump was not receiving supplemental oxygen, but declined to clarify whether the president had received additional oxygen at some point since his hospitalization. “Right now, all the indicators are that it will continue without oxygen in the future.”

Conley confirmed that Trump was tested Thursday afternoon and a few hours later it was confirmed that he had tested positive. She also said that 72 hours had passed since her diagnosis, suggesting a different timeline.

In a later statement issued by the White House, Conley said he had incorrectly used the term “72 hours” instead of “day three” and the term “48 hours” instead of “day two” in his comments.

When asked why the decision was made to transfer him to the hospital, Mr. Conley replied, “Because he is the President of the United States. “

On Trump’s risk factors, he said that the president “is 74 years old, a man and a little overweight”, but that his cholesterol and blood pressure are “excellent.”

He declined to speculate on how long Trump would stay at Walter Reed Medical Center. “I don’t want to put a hard date on that … every day we evaluate.”