By Eric Mack (NEWSMAX)
A person familiar with President Donald Trump’s medical situation told reporters Saturday the president is not yet on a clear path to recovery from COVID-19 and some of his vital signs over the past 24 hours were very concerning.
NOTE: Dr. Conley has unsurprisingly confirmed the White House’s claims that he “misspoke” about Trump being 72 hours in, saying that Saturday is the start of Day 3, meaning Trump is 48 hours in. Dr. Conley also reaffirmed that Trump was diagnosed Thursday night as the MSM continues to speculate that Trump either wasn’t tested right away after developing symptoms, or that he had concealed the true timing of his diagnosis until news of Hope Hicks’ infection hit.
The source, who asked not to be identified, said the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of Trump’s care. The assessment seemed at odds with that of Trump’s doctor during a brief press conference.
Trump’s physician provided an update on the president’s health in his COVID-19 bout Saturday, saying he has been “fever free for 24 hours” and has not needed oxygen.
“This morning the president is doing very well,” Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, announced in an update on the president’s condition at Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday.
The president told his team, per the doctors: “I feel like I could walk out of here today.”
Trump tweeted about 1½ hours later:
“Doctors, Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them, are AMAZING!!! Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well!”
Dr. Conley said the president’s medical team is “extremely happy” with he president’s progress.
The vital organs are all functioning normally and he is not oxygen with an oxygen saturation level of 96%, which is normal, according to Dr. Conley.
The president has been encouraged to get “up and out of bed” and has been “fever free for 24 hours.”
“Right now all indicators are he will not need oxygen going forward,” Dr. Conley said.
He has not experienced difficulty breathing, he added.
Doctors said Saturday that Trump was not on supplemental oxygen, and while he had fatigue, nasal congestion, and coughing, his symptoms are now resolving and improving.
Dr. Conley, Trump’s physician, refused to say whether Trump had been on supplemental oxygen at any point during his illness, saying he was not on it Saturday or Thursday or Friday while he was with the medical team from Walter Reed Medical Center.
Trump was transferred to the military hospital on Friday afternoon in what doctors say was a precaution after he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. He has not transferred powers.
Conley says the president has “a lot of work to do” and is doing it.
“He’s in exceptionally good spirits,” said another doctor, Sean Dooley.
In a memo released shortly before midnight, Conley did report Trump had been treated at the hospital with remdesivir, an antiviral medication that has been promoted by many in the administration, after taking another experimental drug at the White House.
The White House said Trump was expected to stay at the hospital for “a few days” and he would continue to work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties. In addition to accessibility to tests and equipment, the decision was made, at least in part, with the understanding that moving him later, if he took a turn for the worse, could send a worrying signal.
Information from The Associated Press and Reuters has been used in this report.
