Next 48 hours critical for COVID-infected Trump, amid concerning health reports

Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese, putting him at higher risk

US-PRESIDENT-TRUMP-HOSTS-A-GREAT-AMERICAN-COMEBACK-CAMPAIGN-EVEN United States President Donald Trump | AFP

At a briefing earlier today, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said that US President Donald Trump went through a very concerning period on Friday and that "the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his health". Trump, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus last week, is admitted at a military hospital; his aides assure that he only has mild symptoms. However, multiple reports had claimed on Friday that Trump was administered supplemental oxygen before he was transported to the hospital.

According to news agency AP, a briefing by Navy Commander Sean Conley left murky the issue of whether Trump needed supplemental oxygen. He declined to discuss exactly when the US president fell ill. Conley also revealed that Trump began exhibiting clinical indications of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon, earlier than previously known.

Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese, putting him at higher risk of serious complications. He also has elevated cholesterol. 

With US infections rising for several weeks, Trump was one of about 40,000 Americans who learned they had tested positive when he broke the news early Friday. First lady Melania Trump also tested positive, and both were described as having mild symptoms. The president went to a military hospital for what the White House said was a precautionary visit of a few days. Some of his top advisors and allies also have tested positive recently.

The Trump administration had issued an emergency use authorisation for Remdesivir earlier this year after the drug showed moderate effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients who were hospitalised with the coronavirus. In a video shared on Twitter, Trump said he is "doing very well" and thanked people for their support. "I think I'm doing very well but we're going to make sure that things work out," Trump said in the 18-second video that he tweeted moments after he arrived at the military hospital. "The first lady is doing very well. So, thank you very much. I appreciate it. I will never forget it," he said.

-Inputs from agencies

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines