US President Donald Trump, who is currently hospitalised with the novel coronavirus, could be discharged today as questions still loom over his health condition. Trump had taken a high-profile motorcade rally, greeting supporters, in the midst of his treatment. “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity,” James P. Phillips, a physician at Walter Reed military medical facility where Trump is being treated, tweeted.
Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential “drive-by” just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.
— Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) October 4, 2020
Trump, 74, and his wife First Lady Melania Trump, 50, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, a development that upended the Republican leader's election campaign just weeks before the presidential polls on November 3. He is 74 years old and clinically obese, putting him at higher risk of serious complications. He also has elevated cholesterol. His blood oxygen levels had reportedly dropped twice in recent days and he was given supplemental oxygen.
According to reports, he was also administered dexamethasone, a steroid, after his blood oxygen level dipped on Saturday. In a video posted late Saturday, Trump said he has started to "feel much better" and thanked the American people and global leaders for their support. "I came here. Wasn't feeling so well. I feel much better now. We're working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to Make America Great Again," Trump said in the video message from the military hospital in a suburb of Washington on Saturday.
US house speaker and opposition Democrat Nancy Pelosi said the doctors treating Trump must provide trustworthy information to the public. Pelosi said: "We need to have trust that what they're telling us about the president's condition is real."
-Inputs from agencies
