thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--'They're Hiding Things': Sanjay Gupta Reveals What Trump's Doctors Aren't Saying

CNN ’ s Dr. Sanjay Gupta said the rosy picture of President Donald Trump ’ s health painted by his medical team “ doesn ’ t make sense ” in light of what ’ s known about his battle so far with the COVID-19 coronavirus infection .
Trump was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday as his condition worsened , including a high fever and a drop in oxygen levels that required supplementation .
Since then , Gupta said , there ’ s been “ a lot of inconsistencies ” coming from Trump and his team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conley .
Conley on Sunday admitted Trump ’ s blood oxygen has dropped below normal twice , and that he needed supplemental oxygen at least once .
He is also on at two experimental treatments , but his doctors say he could be released back to the White House on Monday .
Gupta , who is CNN ’ s chief medical correspondent , questioned that timeline , and pointed to “ worrisome ” signs about the president ’ s health .
“ I ’ d have to say that they ’ re hiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a long history of Trump and his doctors not being transparent .
Conley , he said , is “ clearly ... being told what to say and what not to say and how to present things.
” That , Gupta said , makes it “ very hard to trust or believe ” information coming from Trump ’ s medical team .
“ We need to know that status of his lungs , ” he said .
” It ’ s unbelievable to me that we ’ ve asked that question so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of chest X-rays and CT scans , if the president has pneumonia , how much inflammation he has , oxygen levels and a treatment plan .
“ Interestingly , they said his cardiac , liver and kidney function are normal or improving , ” he said .
“ Well , improving from what ?
Because you said they were normal yesterday as well , so were they not normal at some point ?
” “ This whole story still doesn ’ t make sense , ” he said .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a quick decline ?
Not likely .
”

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CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta said the rosy picture of President Donald Trump’s health painted by his medical team “doesn’t make sense” in light of what’s known about his battle so far with the COVID-19 coronavirus infection.
Trump was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday as his condition worsened, including a high fever and a drop in oxygen levels that required supplementation.
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Since then, Gupta said, there’s been “a lot of inconsistencies” coming from Trump and his team, including White House physician Dr. Sean Conley.
Conley on Sunday admitted Trump’s blood oxygen has dropped below normal twice, and that he needed supplemental oxygen at least once. He is also on at two experimental treatments, but his doctors say he could be released back to the White House on Monday.
Gupta, who is CNN’s chief medical correspondent, questioned that timeline, and pointed to “worrisome” signs about the president’s health.
“I’d have to say that they’re hiding things,” he said, pointing to a long history of Trump and his doctors not being transparent.
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Conley, he said, is “clearly ... being told what to say and what not to say and how to present things.” That, Gupta said, makes it “very hard to trust or believe” information coming from Trump’s medical team.
Then, Gupta went through a list of questions they should answer.
“We need to know that status of his lungs,” he said. ”It’s unbelievable to me that we’ve asked that question so many times.”
He said doctors should release the results of chest X-rays and CT scans, if the president has pneumonia, how much inflammation he has, oxygen levels and a treatment plan.
“Interestingly, they said his cardiac, liver and kidney function are normal or improving,” he said. “Well, improving from what? Because you said they were normal yesterday as well, so were they not normal at some point?”
He also questioned the whole timeline of Trump’s diagnosis and treatment.
“This whole story still doesn’t make sense,” he said. “He was diagnosed on Thursday night and had such a quick decline? Not likely.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-04--Medical Experts Raise Questions About Severity Of Trump's COVID-19 Infection

( Reuters ) - Doctors not involved in treating President Donald Trump for COVID-19 said the fact that he has been started on dexamethasone - a generic steroid widely used in other diseases to reduce inflammation - is evidence his case is severe .
Trump ’ s medical team on Sunday said the president was started on the steroid after experiencing low oxygen levels , but his condition was improving and he could be discharged from the hospital on Monday .
“ What I heard in the news conference description suggested the President has more severe illness than the generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel McQuillen , an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington , Massachusetts .
The Infectious Disease Society of America says dexamethasone is beneficial in people with critical or severe COVID-19 who require extra oxygen .
But studies show that the drug is not helpful – and may even be harmful – in people with a milder case of the illness .
Doctors who have been treating COVID-19 patients for months said Trump , who surprised cheering supporters outside the hospital by riding past in a motorcade Sunday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
Trump returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after the short trip .
“ He ’ s not going to go to a home where there ’ s no medical care .
There ’ s basically a hospital in the White House , ” said Dr. Walid Gellad , professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh .
Trump , 74 , was flown to the hospital on Friday hours after announcing that he had tested positive for coronavirus infection .
While at the White House , the president was given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals that is being studied for early infections .
On Saturday , the president was started on a five-day course of intravenous antiviral drug remdesivir , which is sold by Gilead Sciences .
If Trump no longer requires supplemental oxygen and is able to return to his normal activities , his doctors could discharge him from the hospital , said Dr. Amesh Adalja , an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University .
“ The biggest question would be is there a risk of deterioration , or is he on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 is often characterized as having two phases - the viral infection itself and in some cases an overreaction of the body ’ s immune system that can cause organ damage .
“ People sort of putter along for up to a week ... then everything goes downhill very quickly , ” said Dr. Stuart Cohen , chief of infectious disease at California ’ s UC Davis Health .
“ It is always hard to predict who that is going to happen in.
” Doctors said COVID-19 patients who have had a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively quickly , but they will still need to be closely monitored .
“ Some people with COVID-19 develop worsening symptoms , shortness of breath and other complications about a week after they first develop symptoms , ” said Dr. Rajesh Gandhi , an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston .
Dr. David Battinelli , chief medical officer at New York ’ s Northwell Health said “ it ’ s entirely plausible ” that Trump could get discharged on Monday , but cautioned that a full recovery would take time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him to be out and about , and on the campaign trail in less than 14 days , ” he said .

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(Reuters) - Doctors not involved in treating President Donald Trump for COVID-19 said the fact that he has been started on dexamethasone - a generic steroid widely used in other diseases to reduce inflammation - is evidence his case is severe.
Trump’s medical team on Sunday said the president was started on the steroid after experiencing low oxygen levels, but his condition was improving and he could be discharged from the hospital on Monday.
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“What I heard in the news conference description suggested the President has more severe illness than the generally upbeat picture painted,” said Dr. Daniel McQuillen, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts.
The Infectious Disease Society of America says dexamethasone is beneficial in people with critical or severe COVID-19 who require extra oxygen. But studies show that the drug is not helpful – and may even be harmful – in people with a milder case of the illness.
Doctors who have been treating COVID-19 patients for months said Trump, who surprised cheering supporters outside the hospital by riding past in a motorcade Sunday evening, could still be discharged from the hospital. Trump returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after the short trip.
“He’s not going to go to a home where there’s no medical care. There’s basically a hospital in the White House,” said Dr. Walid Gellad, professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh.
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Trump, 74, was flown to the hospital on Friday hours after announcing that he had tested positive for coronavirus infection. While at the White House, the president was given an infusion of an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals that is being studied for early infections. On Saturday, the president was started on a five-day course of intravenous antiviral drug remdesivir, which is sold by Gilead Sciences.
If Trump no longer requires supplemental oxygen and is able to return to his normal activities, his doctors could discharge him from the hospital, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University.
“The biggest question would be is there a risk of deterioration, or is he on a good trajectory?” he said.
COVID-19 is often characterized as having two phases - the viral infection itself and in some cases an overreaction of the body’s immune system that can cause organ damage. “People sort of putter along for up to a week ... then everything goes downhill very quickly,” said Dr. Stuart Cohen, chief of infectious disease at California’s UC Davis Health. “It is always hard to predict who that is going to happen in.”
Doctors said COVID-19 patients who have had a good response to treatment can leave the hospital relatively quickly, but they will still need to be closely monitored.
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“Some people with COVID-19 develop worsening symptoms, shortness of breath and other complications about a week after they first develop symptoms,” said Dr. Rajesh Gandhi, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Dr. David Battinelli, chief medical officer at New York’s Northwell Health said “it’s entirely plausible” that Trump could get discharged on Monday, but cautioned that a full recovery would take time.
“It would be very unlikely for him to be out and about, and on the campaign trail in less than 14 days,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-04--FLASHBACK: Here's How Trump Mocked Hillary Clinton's Pneumonia In 2016

President Donald Trump is under treatment for coronavirus infection at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and has received wishes @ @ @ @ @ both sides of the aisle , including his reelection challenger , Democratic nominee Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ less sympathetic when the tables were turned .
He taunted 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ , and even did a mock impression of his then-rival buckling at the knees as @ @ @ @ @ car : Trump had initially sent good wishes to Clinton after the Sept. 11 , @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t take satisfaction , ” he said .
“ I hope she @ @ @ @ @ she gets well soon.
” But several weeks later , he mocked her over it @ @ @ @ @ shows .
The footage is being shared widely on social media after Trump ’ s @ @ @

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President Donald Trump is under treatment for coronavirus infection at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and has received wishes for a swift recovery from both sides of the aisle, including his reelection challenger, Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
But Trump was far less sympathetic when the tables were turned.
He taunted 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for getting sick with pneumonia, and even did a mock impression of his then-rival buckling at the knees as she was taken to her car:
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Donald Trump mocks Hillary Clinton over her pneumonia outbreak pic.twitter.com/feHjV6cLDa — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 2, 2016
Trump had initially sent good wishes to Clinton after the Sept. 11, 2016, incident.
“I don’t take satisfaction,” he said. “I hope she gets well and I hope she gets well soon.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Top Deputies Write Letter Accusing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Of Crimes

DALLAS ( AP ) — Several top deputies of Texas ’ attorney general have reported to law enforcement that their boss engaged in crimes including bribery and abuse of office , according to an internal letter .
In a single-page letter to the director of human resources in the attorney general ’ s office , the seven senior lawyers wrote that they reported Republican Ken Paxton to “ the appropriate law enforcement authority ” for potentially breaking the law “ in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas.
” “ We have a good faith belief that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state law including prohibitions related to improper influence , abuse of office , bribery and other potential criminal offenses , ” the Thursday letter states .
It was first reported jointly by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV and subsequently obtained by The Associated Press .
The letter does not offer specifics but nonetheless stands as a remarkable accusation of criminal wrongdoing against the state ’ s top law enforcement officer by his own staff , including some longtime supporters of his conservative Christian politics .
It could deepen legal trouble for Paxton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in office under felony indictment for securities fraud , although the case has stalled for years over legal challenges .
Paxton pleaded not guilty in that case , and it is not clear whether the new accusations are related .
Philip Hilder , the attorney general ’ s defense lawyer , declined to comment Sunday .
“ We ’ re going to look into these allegations , ” Brian Wice , one of the special prosecutor on the securities case , said of the new claims of wrongdoing by Paxton .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the American-Statesman Paxton ’ s office said : “ The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing investigation into criminal wrongdoing by public officials including employees of this office .
Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law.
” “ These allegations raise serious concerns , ” Gov .
Greg Abbott , also a Republican , said in a Sunday statement .
He declined to comment further “ until the results of any investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General Ken Paxton is the top law enforcement official in the state , ” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement .
“ Yet , he has proven for years that he can not follow the law himself.
” The letter was signed by the deputy attorneys general for policy , administration , civil litigation , criminal investigations and legal counsel , as well as Paxton ’ s first assistant , Jeff Mateer , and Mateer ’ s deputy .
None of them responded to messages seeking comment Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office Friday to rejoin a prominent conservative nonprofit law firm in the Dallas-area , according to the Dallas Morning News .
The First Liberty Institute did not immediately respond to an inquiry about him Sunday .
Paxton , who is in his second term , has raised his national profile as a conservative crusader under President Donald Trump— including leading Lawyers for Trump , a group supporting the president ’ s reelection .
He also spearheaded a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Attorneys General Association .
A spokeswoman for the association declined to comment .
Michelle Lee , a spokeswoman for the FBI ’ s San Antonio office , said it ’ s agency policy not to comment on whether it has received allegations of crimes or is investigating .
A spokesman for the U.S .
Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas declined to comment .

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DALLAS (AP) — Several top deputies of Texas’ attorney general have reported to law enforcement that their boss engaged in crimes including bribery and abuse of office, according to an internal letter.
In a single-page letter to the director of human resources in the attorney general’s office, the seven senior lawyers wrote that they reported Republican Ken Paxton to “the appropriate law enforcement authority” for potentially breaking the law “in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas.”
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“We have a good faith belief that the attorney general is violating federal and/or state law including prohibitions related to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses,” the Thursday letter states. It was first reported jointly by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV and subsequently obtained by The Associated Press.
The letter does not offer specifics but nonetheless stands as a remarkable accusation of criminal wrongdoing against the state’s top law enforcement officer by his own staff, including some longtime supporters of his conservative Christian politics. It could deepen legal trouble for Paxton, who has spent nearly his entire five years in office under felony indictment for securities fraud, although the case has stalled for years over legal challenges.
Paxton pleaded not guilty in that case, and it is not clear whether the new accusations are related. Philip Hilder, the attorney general’s defense lawyer, declined to comment Sunday.
“We’re going to look into these allegations,” Brian Wice, one of the special prosecutor on the securities case, said of the new claims of wrongdoing by Paxton. He declined to elaborate.
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In a statement to the American-Statesman Paxton’s office said: “The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing investigation into criminal wrongdoing by public officials including employees of this office. Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law.”
It’s unclear what investigation is being referenced in the statement. Paxton’s office did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment Sunday.
“These allegations raise serious concerns,” Gov. Greg Abbott, also a Republican, said in a Sunday statement. He declined to comment further “until the results of any investigation are complete.”
“Indicted Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is the top law enforcement official in the state,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement. “Yet, he has proven for years that he cannot follow the law himself.”
The letter was signed by the deputy attorneys general for policy, administration, civil litigation, criminal investigations and legal counsel, as well as Paxton’s first assistant, Jeff Mateer, and Mateer’s deputy. None of them responded to messages seeking comment Saturday or Sunday.
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Mateer resigned from Paxton’s office Friday to rejoin a prominent conservative nonprofit law firm in the Dallas-area, according to the Dallas Morning News. The First Liberty Institute did not immediately respond to an inquiry about him Sunday.
Paxton, who is in his second term, has raised his national profile as a conservative crusader under President Donald Trump— including leading Lawyers for Trump, a group supporting the president’s reelection. He also spearheaded a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court this fall and was previously chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association. A spokeswoman for the association declined to comment.
Michelle Lee, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s San Antonio office, said it’s agency policy not to comment on whether it has received allegations of crimes or is investigating. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas declined to comment.
Bill Miller, a veteran Texas political consultant who’s worked for Republicans and Democrats, said he couldn’t think of any precedent for a current elected leader’s staff accusing them of crimes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Facing A Conservative Turn, Supreme Court Opens New Term

Eight justices are getting back to work Monday at a most unusual , politically fraught moment in American history .
They ’ re still mourning the death of their colleague Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the leader of the court ’ s liberal wing .
They ’ re working in the midst of a pandemic that has forced the court to drastically change the way it conducts business .
And the presidential election is less than a month away .
President Donald Trump ’ s nominee for Ginsburg ’ s seat , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , could be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the term ’ s biggest cases , post-Election Day arguments in the latest Republican bid to strike down the Affordable Care Act , which provides more than 20 million people with health insurance .
Barrett ’ s confirmation would cement a 6-3 conservative majority and diminish Chief Justice John Roberts ’ ability to moderate the court ’ s decisions .
That ’ s because conservatives would have five votes even in cases where Roberts might side with the remaining three liberal justices .
“ I would guess that on the whole we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps quite rapid shift to the right , ” said Orin Kerr , a law professor at the University of California , Berkeley .
The term is so far short on high-profile cases , but that could change quickly because of the prospect of court involvement in lawsuits related to the election .
Trump has said he wants Barrett in place soon so that she could be among nine justices , including his other appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , who weigh in on any voting cases .
Four years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court seat open through the election , even if it meant having an eight-justice court decide any election challenges .
High-court involvement in the election could make this “ the most tumultuous and divisive term since the Supreme Court decided Bush v. Gore 20 years ago and effectively determined who would become president of the United States , ” said Irv Gornstein , a Georgetown University law professor .
Already this year , the justices have weighed in on election issues in Wisconsin , Alabama , Rhode Island , Florida and Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allowing all voters to vote by mail .
Pending are pleas from Republicans to reverse decisions extending the deadline for receiving and counting mail-in ballots in the battleground state of Pennsylvania and suspending a ballot witness requirement in South Carolina , where polls find a tight race between Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison .
The court will begin the term the way it ended the last one , meeting by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic and allowing the public to listen live to arguments .
The biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died of cancer last month at age 87 after 27 years on the bench .
When the justices met remotely in May , she already was suffering from a recurrence of pancreatic cancer that was first diagnosed in 2009 .
The only time her colleagues , masked and remaining at some distance from each other , gathered in person since March , when the court was closed to the public , was for Ginsburg ’ s memorial service in the court ’ s Great Hall .
“ I ’ m still trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Justice Ginsburg won ’ t be on the bench any longer , ” said Donald Verrilli , the Obama administration ’ s top lawyer before the Supreme Court who will argue in the Affordable Care Act case in November .
The cases being argued over the next two weeks , meanwhile , all had been scheduled for last spring , but were postponed when the virus forced the court to shut down for a time .
The most consequential case in October is a dispute between technology giants in which Oracle claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Google for using Oracle ’ s copyrighted code in the development of Google ’ s Android operating system for smartphones .
The day after the election brings a battle of religious rights and LGBT discrimination from Philadelphia .
A social service agency run by the Catholic church sued after the city decided to stop placing children with the agency over its policy of not permitting same-sex couples to serve as foster parents .
It could be one of the first cases the court hears with nine justices , if Republicans succeed in @ @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court opens a new term with Republicans on the cusp of realizing a dream 50 years in the making, a solid conservative majority that might roll back abortion rights, expand gun rights and shrink the power of government.
Eight justices are getting back to work Monday at a most unusual, politically fraught moment in American history. They’re still mourning the death of their colleague Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the leader of the court’s liberal wing. They’re working in the midst of a pandemic that has forced the court to drastically change the way it conducts business. And the presidential election is less than a month away.
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President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ginsburg’s seat, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, could be on the bench in time for one of the term’s biggest cases, post-Election Day arguments in the latest Republican bid to strike down the Affordable Care Act, which provides more than 20 million people with health insurance.
Barrett’s confirmation would cement a 6-3 conservative majority and diminish Chief Justice John Roberts’ ability to moderate the court’s decisions. That’s because conservatives would have five votes even in cases where Roberts might side with the remaining three liberal justices.
“I would guess that on the whole we’re going to see a considerable and perhaps quite rapid shift to the right,” said Orin Kerr, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
The term is so far short on high-profile cases, but that could change quickly because of the prospect of court involvement in lawsuits related to the election. Trump has said he wants Barrett in place soon so that she could be among nine justices, including his other appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who weigh in on any voting cases. Four years ago, Republicans were content to leave a Supreme Court seat open through the election, even if it meant having an eight-justice court decide any election challenges.
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High-court involvement in the election could make this “the most tumultuous and divisive term since the Supreme Court decided Bush v. Gore 20 years ago and effectively determined who would become president of the United States,” said Irv Gornstein, a Georgetown University law professor.
Already this year, the justices have weighed in on election issues in Wisconsin, Alabama, Rhode Island, Florida and Texas. Among the issues: ballot witness requirements and allowing all voters to vote by mail. Pending are pleas from Republicans to reverse decisions extending the deadline for receiving and counting mail-in ballots in the battleground state of Pennsylvania and suspending a ballot witness requirement in South Carolina, where polls find a tight race between Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison.
The court will begin the term the way it ended the last one, meeting by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic and allowing the public to listen live to arguments. The biggest change is the absence of Ginsburg, who died of cancer last month at age 87 after 27 years on the bench. When the justices met remotely in May, she already was suffering from a recurrence of pancreatic cancer that was first diagnosed in 2009.
The only time her colleagues, masked and remaining at some distance from each other, gathered in person since March, when the court was closed to the public, was for Ginsburg’s memorial service in the court’s Great Hall.
“I’m still trying to get my head around the idea that Justice Ginsburg won’t be on the bench any longer,” said Donald Verrilli, the Obama administration’s top lawyer before the Supreme Court who will argue in the Affordable Care Act case in November.
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The cases being argued over the next two weeks, meanwhile, all had been scheduled for last spring, but were postponed when the virus forced the court to shut down for a time. The most consequential case in October is a dispute between technology giants in which Oracle claims it’s owed $9 billion by Google for using Oracle’s copyrighted code in the development of Google’s Android operating system for smartphones.
The day after the election brings a battle of religious rights and LGBT discrimination from Philadelphia. A social service agency run by the Catholic church sued after the city decided to stop placing children with the agency over its policy of not permitting same-sex couples to serve as foster parents. It could be one of the first cases the court hears with nine justices, if Republicans succeed in confirming Barrett before the election.
In December, the justices will decide whether the House of Representatives can obtain grand jury materials that were part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the last election.
It’s among several cases that could go away or at least look very different if Democrat Joe Biden wins the election.
One other possibility next year is a retirement, especially if Biden wins and Democrats retake the Senate. Justice Stephen Breyer is now the court’s oldest justice, at age 82.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Kelly Loeffler Panned For Insensitive Video Of Trump 'Beating' COVID-19 In A Brawl

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R ) earned fierce rebukes on Monday for tweeting a bizarre and insensitive wrestling video edited to look as though President Donald Trump was winning a brawl with the coronavirus .
“ COVID stood NO chance against @ realDonaldTrump !
” the senator tweeted alongside a manipulated World Wrestling Entertainment clip of Trump tackling WWE chairman Vince McMahon in a 2007 publicity stunt .
McMahon ’ s face was replaced with an image of the virus .
More than 210,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19 .
Over 7,000 of those deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who has world-class medical treatment and around-the-clock care , was hospitalized for several days after he tested positive for the virus that he spent months downplaying .
Though his condition is not clear , the president returned to the White House Monday evening and paraded around without a mask despite almost certainly still being infectious .
Nevertheless , Loeffler cast Trump as a hero who has defeated the virus .
Since Trump ’ s positive test was announced early Friday morning , she ’ s repeatedly posted well wishes and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lady Melania Trump ― both of whom were routinely seen flouting mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines at events .
Loeffler , one of the wealthiest people in Congress , is in a special election bid to win the Senate seat she was appointed to in December 2019 .
Her opponents in the crowded race include Republican Rep. Doug Collins and the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , the Democratic pastor of the Atlanta church once led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr .
The businesswoman has been at the center of repeated controversies during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has claimed she is “ more conservative than Attila the Hun ” ― a brutal 5th-century warlord ― and has condemned Black Lives Matter .
Players in the WNBA team she co-owns , the Atlanta Dream , are openly supporting Warnock after pressuring Loeffler to sell her stake in their team .
Critics of Loeffler ’ s Monday tweet noted that dying from COVID-19 does not make you “ weak ” or a “ loser ” and that overcoming the virus does not signify being “ tough.
” Her Democratic opponent , Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obviously an incredibly bizarre thing for a sitting US senator to tweet for a lot of reasons .
But do they think that people who died from Covid ... just were n't tough enough ?
Does Loeffler think that the 7,000 Georgians who have died from it were weak and gave up ?
https : //t.co/MIOlicqd37 — Susan Hennessey ( @ Susan_Hennessey ) October 5 , 2020 This meme , except Trump is Loeffler dumping stocks after receiving a special coronavirus briefing , and the other guy is her constituents getting hammered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the terrible economy .
https : //t.co/tjWFiTWJIv — Tommy Vietor ( @ TVietor08 ) October 5 , 2020 It really is amazing to see sitting senators act like pre-2016 Redditors , making memes and shitposting for clout .
Really illuminates the extent to which we are all just Posters now .
https : //t.co/RZrPgFYswR — Kevin Roose ( @ kevinroose ) October 5 , 2020 It 's not just Trump .
This election has to be an historic rebuke of the Republican Party .
Anything less condemns our country to more cycles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Ben Rhodes ( @ brhodes ) October 5 , 2020

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Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) earned fierce rebukes on Monday for tweeting a bizarre and insensitive wrestling video edited to look as though President Donald Trump was winning a brawl with the coronavirus.
“COVID stood NO chance against @realDonaldTrump!” the senator tweeted alongside a manipulated World Wrestling Entertainment clip of Trump tackling WWE chairman Vince McMahon in a 2007 publicity stunt. McMahon’s face was replaced with an image of the virus.
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More than 210,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19. Over 7,000 of those deaths were in Loeffler’s state. Trump, who has world-class medical treatment and around-the-clock care, was hospitalized for several days after he tested positive for the virus that he spent months downplaying.
Though his condition is not clear, the president returned to the White House Monday evening and paraded around without a mask despite almost certainly still being infectious.
Nevertheless, Loeffler cast Trump as a hero who has defeated the virus. Since Trump’s positive test was announced early Friday morning, she’s repeatedly posted well wishes and even accused China of infecting him and first lady Melania Trump ― both of whom were routinely seen flouting mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines at events.
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Loeffler, one of the wealthiest people in Congress, is in a special election bid to win the Senate seat she was appointed to in December 2019. Her opponents in the crowded race include Republican Rep. Doug Collins and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democratic pastor of the Atlanta church once led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The businesswoman has been at the center of repeated controversies during her first year in office. She has claimed she is “more conservative than Attila the Hun” ― a brutal 5th-century warlord ― and has condemned Black Lives Matter. Players in the WNBA team she co-owns, the Atlanta Dream, are openly supporting Warnock after pressuring Loeffler to sell her stake in their team.
Critics of Loeffler’s Monday tweet noted that dying from COVID-19 does not make you “weak” or a “loser” and that overcoming the virus does not signify being “tough.” Her Democratic opponent, Warnock, also joined the fray.
7,192 Georgians have died from COVID-19. https://t.co/iAb3AthxcQ — Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) October 5, 2020
This is obviously an incredibly bizarre thing for a sitting US senator to tweet for a lot of reasons. But do they think that people who died from Covid... just weren't tough enough? Does Loeffler think that the 7,000 Georgians who have died from it were weak and gave up? https://t.co/MIOlicqd37 — Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) October 5, 2020
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As someone who lost a family member to COVID, please, go fuck yourself, @KLoeffler. What a disgusting human being you are. — Kurt "Mask Up, Vote Early" Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) October 5, 2020
This meme, except Trump is Loeffler dumping stocks after receiving a special coronavirus briefing, and the other guy is her constituents getting hammered in the markets and getting laid off by the terrible economy. https://t.co/tjWFiTWJIv — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 5, 2020
It really is amazing to see sitting senators act like pre-2016 Redditors, making memes and shitposting for clout. Really illuminates the extent to which we are all just Posters now. https://t.co/RZrPgFYswR — Kevin Roose (@kevinroose) October 5, 2020
It's not just Trump. This election has to be an historic rebuke of the Republican Party. Anything less condemns our country to more cycles of mindless insanity. https://t.co/liCRxCx4wc — Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) October 5, 2020
"The party will go back to normal after Trump," they tell me. https://t.co/erhK9q3e0r — Tim Miller (@Timodc) October 5, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Kamala Harris And Mike Pence To Be Separated By Plexiglass During Debate

WILMINGTON , Del .
( Reuters ) - Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris will be separated @ @ @ @ @ their debate on Wednesday , a source familiar with the matter said , in an @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus transmission .
The debate , the only one scheduled between the vice presidential @ @ @ @ @ Salt Lake City , six days after President Donald Trump announced he had contracted the @ @ @ @ @ Presidential Debates , which oversees the debate , did not immediately respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ statement , Pence ’ s spokeswoman , Katie Miller , said : “ If Senator @ @ @ @ @ fortress around herself , have at it.
” In response , Sabrina Singh , a @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter : “ Interesting that @ VPComDir Katie Miller mocks our wanting a plexiglass @ @ @ @ @ , when her own boss is supposedly in charge of the COVID-19 task force and @ @ @ @ @ too .
”

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WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris will be separated by a plexiglass barrier during their debate on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter said, in an effort to lower the risk of coronavirus transmission.
The debate, the only one scheduled between the vice presidential candidates, is scheduled for Salt Lake City, six days after President Donald Trump announced he had contracted the virus.
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The Commission on Presidential Debates, which oversees the debate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Pence’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, said: “If Senator Harris wants to use a fortress around herself, have at it.”
In response, Sabrina Singh, a spokeswoman for Harris, wrote on Twitter: “Interesting that @VPComDir Katie Miller mocks our wanting a plexiglass barrier on the debate stage, when her own boss is supposedly in charge of the COVID-19 task force and should be advocating for this too.”
Miller contracted COVID-19 in the spring.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--CDC: Coronavirus Can Spread Further Than 6 Feet -- Especially Indoors

NEW YORK ( AP ) — The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air , especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces .
But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense .
However , several experts faulted the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance .
They said the virus can spread more easily than the CDC seems to be indicating , and suggested that the public should wear masks even in prolonged outdoor gatherings when they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus “ is traveling through the air and there is no bright line .
You ’ re not safe beyond 6 feet .
You can ’ t take your mask off at 6 feet , ” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health .
For months , the CDC has said that the virus spreads mainly through small airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea , saying that 6 feet is a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
In interviews , CDC officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller particles called aerosols that spread over a wider area .
In the update posted on its website , the agency again acknowledged recent research showing people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after an infected person left an area .
CDC officials called those ” limited , uncommon circumstances.
” In those cases , spread occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces where people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like singing or exercise , CDC officials said .
People can protect themselves by staying at least 6 feet away from others , wearing a mask , washing their hands , cleaning touched surfaces and staying home when sick Last month , the CDC ignited controversy among experts when it quietly posted an update that seemed to suggest the agency ’ s position had changed , and then within days took it down again .
The short-lived post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor ventilation .
It also added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne .
Federal health officials later said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed .
They said there was no major change in the agency ’ s position , but they would finalize a post to clarify the CDC ’ s thinking .
That ’ s what was posted Monday .
A small group of researchers — including Milton — on Monday published a letter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health guidance about how coronavirus spreads in the air .
They said health officials need to use clearer language in talking about the size of airborne particles and droplets that can spread the disease , and be more straightforward about the role that viruses in small aerosols can play in infecting people .

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NEW YORK (AP) — The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense.
However, several experts faulted the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. They said the virus can spread more easily than the CDC seems to be indicating, and suggested that the public should wear masks even in prolonged outdoor gatherings when they are more than 6 feet apart.
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The virus “is traveling through the air and there is no bright line. You’re not safe beyond 6 feet. You can’t take your mask off at 6 feet,” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
For months, the CDC has said that the virus spreads mainly through small airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea, saying that 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not wearing masks.
In interviews, CDC officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller particles called aerosols that spread over a wider area.
In the update posted on its website, the agency again acknowledged recent research showing people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after an infected person left an area. CDC officials called those ”limited, uncommon circumstances.”
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In those cases, spread occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces where people were doing activities that caused heavier breathing, like singing or exercise, CDC officials said.
People can protect themselves by staying at least 6 feet away from others, wearing a mask, washing their hands, cleaning touched surfaces and staying home when sick
Last month, the CDC ignited controversy among experts when it quietly posted an update that seemed to suggest the agency’s position had changed, and then within days took it down again.
The short-lived post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet, and officials emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation. It also added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne.
Federal health officials later said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed. They said there was no major change in the agency’s position, but they would finalize a post to clarify the CDC’s thinking. That’s what was posted Monday.
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A small group of researchers — including Milton — on Monday published a letter in the journal Science that called for clearer public health guidance about how coronavirus spreads in the air.
They said health officials need to use clearer language in talking about the size of airborne particles and droplets that can spread the disease, and be more straightforward about the role that viruses in small aerosols can play in infecting people.
Masks and good ventilation are crucial indoors. But they can be important outdoors too, said Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Can Heaters Spread COVID-19?

Can Heaters Spread COVID-19?

Some experts say it ’ s unlikely you will contract COVID-19 through a heating system .
Although a small number of cases have occurred because of HVAC system airflow , it is not a common way to contract the coronavirus , said Rick Martinello , medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health .
As a whole , the risk is very low and there is not much concern around virus spread through standard heating ( and cooling ) systems .
But Martinello also noted that things can change quickly as we learn more about this coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I just said is absolutely true .
But what people have experienced over the last eight to nine months has not raised concern that this is a major way that COVID is being transmitted.
” Fans could potentially be a culprit in COVID-19 transmission under the right circumstances .
“ When you have a relatively large room and a system blowing air , there ’ s a chance a fan can blow droplets from one person toward somebody else .
So , that is the key concern of how an HVAC system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged .
( And , as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recognizes , COVID-19 can spread through the air . )
The professor stressed that this would likely happen only in a space that isn ’ t well-ventilated and only if the infected person is in front of the fan .
He added that a lot has to go wrong for people to get sick this way — the virus is mainly spread when people are too close together for long periods of time , not when fans move droplets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk is low .
“ We ’ re not seeing widespread dissemination that would follow the pattern of it being in heating systems or in HVAC systems .
Even in a household when you have an infected person , the attack rate is not 100 % , ” he said , meaning when one person in a household tests positive for the coronavirus , other people in the home do not always get sick .
That said , there is some disagreement about HVAC risk and we ’ re still learning about COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , there have been corrections to guidelines , retractions from medical professionals and varied rules for mask-wearing state by state .
So it ’ s not surprising that there is some disagreement around the risk of the coronavirus spreading through HVAC systems as well .

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As coronavirus-related news grows heavier and the temperatures outside drop, it’s hard not to worry about what the next few months of the pandemic will look like.
Before we know it, heating systems will turn on in homes and commercial spaces across the Northern Hemisphere. Should we be concerned about the virus spreading through heating systems as we were with air conditioning?
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Infectious disease experts and engineers shared their thoughts on the spread of COVID-19 and why we, thankfully, may not have to fear contracting the virus through HVAC systems this fall and winter.
Some experts say it’s unlikely you will contract COVID-19 through a heating system.
Although a small number of cases have occurred because of HVAC system airflow, it is not a common way to contract the coronavirus, said Rick Martinello, medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health. As a whole, the risk is very low and there is not much concern around virus spread through standard heating (and cooling) systems.
“The likelihood is that the dilution and filtration that occurs as air recirculates is likely sufficient to prevent most of the dispersion of virus in that way that would pose a threat to people,” he said.
But Martinello also noted that things can change quickly as we learn more about this coronavirus. “We don’t know if what I just said is absolutely true. But what people have experienced over the last eight to nine months has not raised concern that this is a major way that COVID is being transmitted.”
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Fans could potentially be a culprit in COVID-19 transmission under the right circumstances.
James Lo, an assistant professor of architectural engineering at Drexel University, explained that HVAC systems designed for commercial spaces (like a mall or an office building) have filters and ducts that mostly clean the air before it recirculates. He added that HVAC systems also bring outdoor air into a space, which helps dilute the indoor air, making the likelihood of infection from an HVAC system pretty low.
But some people are worried about fans of any sort — HVAC fans, individual-use fans, standing fans — blowing air, and thus contaminated particles, away from a sick individual and toward other people.
“When you have a relatively large room and a system blowing air, there’s a chance a fan can blow droplets from one person toward somebody else. So, that is the key concern of how an HVAC system might impact airborne transmission,” Lo acknowledged. (And, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recognizes, COVID-19 can spread through the air.)
The professor stressed that this would likely happen only in a space that isn’t well-ventilated and only if the infected person is in front of the fan. He added that a lot has to go wrong for people to get sick this way — the virus is mainly spread when people are too close together for long periods of time, not when fans move droplets.
“I don’t want people to get paranoid,” he said. “The airborne phenomenon is very real ― people will get sick. But thinking you will get sick anywhere you are is not realistic, it’s just not true.”
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stefanamer via Getty Images
Infection rates within households show the risk is low.
Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, encourages the public to look at household attack rates for the virus to refute any idea that COVID-19 spreads easily through heating systems.
“We’re not seeing widespread dissemination that would follow the pattern of it being in heating systems or in HVAC systems. Even in a household when you have an infected person, the attack rate is not 100%,” he said, meaning when one person in a household tests positive for the coronavirus, other people in the home do not always get sick.
That said, there is some disagreement about HVAC risk and we’re still learning about COVID-19 transmission.
Over the course of the pandemic, there have been corrections to guidelines, retractions from medical professionals and varied rules for mask-wearing state by state. So it’s not surprising that there is some disagreement around the risk of the coronavirus spreading through HVAC systems as well.
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“There’s a professional debate about some of this that has gotten pretty heated between aerobiologists and infectious disease doctors,” Adalja said.
His best advice: people shouldn’t panic and should listen to infectious disease experts on what is known now while remaining flexible in their own thinking.
“I point to epidemiology. There are only a few case reports of things that might have been blown around by air currents — but it’s not that it’s getting sucked into the [HVAC] device and coming back out, disseminating everywhere,” Adalja said.
Key facts we have heard for months from experts remain true: The virus can be airborne and it largely spreads person-to-person amid unmasked get-togethers, lack of social distancing practices and improper hygiene.
Limiting your contacts is still advisable to prevent the spread of the illness. You should also consider opening windows in your home when you can and otherwise make sure your space is well-ventilated. Wipe down any high-touch surface areas that might be contaminated. And, most of all, wear a face mask.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Trump Hasn't Learned Anything About The Coronavirus

The priority for Trump and his allies before last week was to project strength for political purposes , no matter the cost .
The priority now is the same , even as the positive diagnoses pile up and the toll becomes dangerously clear .
“ 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 , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walter Reed ― or has at least pretended to work ― and was with his chief of staff , Mark Meadows , and senior adviser , Dan Scavino , on Sunday .
In other words , instead of quarantining and conducting his job virtually , his aides were with him .
“ I just didn ’ t want to stay in the White House .
I was given that offer .
Stay in the White House , lock yourself in , don ’ t ever leave .
Don ’ t even go in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enjoy it .
Don ’ t see people , don ’ t talk to people .
And just be done with it .
And I can ’ t do that .
I have to be out front , ” he said .
Even after the diagnosis of Trump and top officials , the White House said that masks would still not be mandatory for staff and visitors .
People who have been exposed to a staffer with the coronavirus are not being forced to self-quarantine for 14 days .
But the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the president ’ s illness , and contact tracing has been limited .
A New York Times reporter believes he was infected at the White House the day Trump announced his Supreme Court pick at a large outdoor gathering without mask-wearing and social distancing .
Yet , as of Monday morning , the Times reporter still had not heard from the White House about any contract-tracing efforts .
Trump ’ s medical team , meanwhile , has given confusing and contradictory information to the public , appearing to downplay the severity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about whether there is a cover-up or incompetence .
White House doctor Sean Conley has admitted to withholding information about Trump ’ s condition to reflect an “ upbeat attitude ” that wouldn ’ t upset the president .
The Trump world is already trying to turn the president ’ s illness into a plus .
On Fox News Monday , Trump campaign spokesperson Erin Perrine argued that Trump ― who , again , appeared to be a superspreader because of his refusal to take the coronavirus seriously ― now has “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden doesn ’ t .
Trump ’ s medical team has also held out the possibility of releasing the president as early as Monday — much to the shock of health experts who say it goes against all best practices , seems foolish in light of the serious treatment the president has received , and appears to be influenced by politics and a president who wants to look strong a month before the election .

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President Donald Trump posted a video Sunday night talking about his condition as he recovers from the coronavirus, saying he is now more of an expert than the experts.
“I learned a lot about COVID. I learned it by really going to school. This isn’t the ‘let’s read the books’ school. I get it. And I understand it. It’s a very interesting thing,” he said.
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But everything Trump has done since receiving a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 shows how this superspreader has actually learned nothing at all.
The priority for Trump and his allies before last week was to project strength for political purposes, no matter the cost. The priority now is the same, even as the positive diagnoses pile up and the toll becomes dangerously clear.
The video posted Sunday night contained a surprise announcement that Trump was going to take a drive in the presidential motorcade to thank supporters who had gathered outside the hospital to wish him well.
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The problem with that move is that Secret Service agents accompanied him in the car, which is tightly sealed ― dangerous conditions to be in with someone who has COVID-19.
“That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack,” tweeted Dr. James Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed. “The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures.”
“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,” he added.
Trump has worked while at Walter Reed ― or has at least pretended to work ― and was with his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and senior adviser, Dan Scavino, on Sunday. In other words, instead of quarantining and conducting his job virtually, his aides were with him.
Trump has continued to bristle at the idea of being quarantined, despite his positive diagnosis. He has sent a message to people around the country that it is not essential to self-isolate.
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In a video on Twitter, he explained that he decided to go to Walter Reed because he didn’t simply didn’t want to have to isolate himself.
“I just didn’t want to stay in the White House. I was given that offer. Stay in the White House, lock yourself in, don’t ever leave. Don’t even go in the Oval Office. Just stay upstairs and enjoy it. Don’t see people, don’t talk to people. And just be done with it. And I can’t do that. I have to be out front,” he said.
Again, the reason that people recover from the coronavirus alone is not to “enjoy” being quarantined, but so they don’t risk infecting other people.
But Trump and those in his circle ― where coronavirus cases continue to spread at an astonishing pace ― seem to have little regard for the spread.
Even after the diagnosis of Trump and top officials, the White House said that masks would still not be mandatory for staff and visitors. People who have been exposed to a staffer with the coronavirus are not being forced to self-quarantine for 14 days.
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Indeed, the White House press secretary spoke to reporters outside the White House on Sunday without wearing a mask.
A day later, she announced she now has COVID-19. Two of her deputies are also sick.
A day before testing positive for COVID-19, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany spoke to reporters without a mask. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press
On Saturday, the Trump campaign hosted an event in Iowa where attendees mingled with the state’s governor. Masks were not required. On Sunday morning, a top campaign adviser claimed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has “used the mask as a prop.”
Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager, had already tested positive last Friday for COVID-19.
Data, information and transparency are key to fighting the coronavirus. It’s important to trace a person’s activities to try to figure out who else might be infected and stanch further spread of the virus.
But the White House has refused to release detailed information about the president’s illness, and contact tracing has been limited. A New York Times reporter believes he was infected at the White House the day Trump announced his Supreme Court pick at a large outdoor gathering without mask-wearing and social distancing. Yet, as of Monday morning, the Times reporter still had not heard from the White House about any contract-tracing efforts.
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Trump’s medical team, meanwhile, has given confusing and contradictory information to the public, appearing to downplay the severity of his condition and opening itself up to questions about whether there is a cover-up or incompetence. White House doctor Sean Conley has admitted to withholding information about Trump’s condition to reflect an “upbeat attitude” that wouldn’t upset the president.
The Trump world is already trying to turn the president’s illness into a plus. On Fox News Monday, Trump campaign spokesperson Erin Perrine argued that Trump ― who, again, appeared to be a superspreader because of his refusal to take the coronavirus seriously ― now has “firsthand experiences” about the virus that Biden doesn’t.
Trump’s medical team has also held out the possibility of releasing the president as early as Monday — much to the shock of health experts who say it goes against all best practices, seems foolish in light of the serious treatment the president has received, and appears to be influenced by politics and a president who wants to look strong a month before the election.
“I will bet dollars to doughnuts it’s the president and his political aides who are talking about discharge, not his doctors,” William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University’s medical school.
On Monday afternoon, Trump tweeted that he was going to back to the White House despite his earlier video message insisting he didn’t want to be stuck there.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--The Truth About 'Boosting' Your Immune System Against COVID-19

Why do scientists hate the term ‘ boosting ’ your immune system ?
Broadly speaking , the immune system works in two ways .
Firstly , by sparking a first-line defense to help us cope with infections such as COVID-19 , then secondly – at around five to seven days – the body will start making antibodies and have a more specific immune response tailored to the virus .
If someone ’ s immune system is operating at a higher level than normal , this is actually a bad thing .
Having an overactive immune response can cause an autoimmune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attack its own healthy tissues and organs .
“ If it goes into overdrive , we ’ ll actually damage our own bodies and that ’ s what we see with severe COVID , ” explains Macciochi .
“ With a lot of the people who are hospitalized with COVID , it ’ s actually because their immune system has gone a bit over the top.
” OK , but isn ’ t having a strong immune system a good thing ?
“ It ’ s like an orchestra , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play together for the song to sound correct .
If one of the instruments is screeching in the background , it knocks everything else out.
” Everyone has their own individual base level of immunity , let ’ s call this 100 % .
While you can ’ t “ boost ” your immune system to work at 110 % – or make yourself magically immune to COVID-19 – you can support it to function at its fullest .
How can you give your immune system the best shot ?
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and zinc , but all the essential nutrients and getting enough protein , because that ’ s the building block of all the cells and antibodies of our immune system , ” Macciochi says .
Taking care of the gut is a good idea for health in general , as is aiming for 30 different plant foods per week , she says .
You should also focus on “ diversity of dietary fiber , ” which means eating a variety of fruit , vegetables , legumes , nuts , seeds and whole grains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
A paper published in the Lancet journal casts some doubt on the evidence to date , saying “ laboratory data relating to effects of vitamin D on host responses to SARS-CoV-2 specifically are scarce.
” The authors say we need further studies before making firm conclusions , but add “ there is nothing to lose ” from considering vitamin D supplements .
Macciochi says vitamin D is the one supplement people may want to consider taking , as it ’ s hard to get from food alone .
But she urges caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D – as a solution and emphasizes that we need to follow guidelines on social distancing , masks and good hygiene practices as the priority .

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There’s no shortage of articles advising you how to “boost” your immune system against COVID-19 – and no shortage of companies claiming their snack bar/smoothie/supplement/fermented tea is the solution.
But if staving off the coronavirus was as simple as eating a few blueberries or downing some kombucha, wouldn’t world leaders be telling us to do it?
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“There’s no way you can scientifically ‘boost’ your immune system,” Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist based at the University of Sussex, tells HuffPost UK. “Medically, it doesn’t really make sense – the immune system isn’t a switch that you turn on and turn up high.”
Why do scientists hate the term ‘boosting’ your immune system?
Broadly speaking, the immune system works in two ways. Firstly, by sparking a first-line defense to help us cope with infections such as COVID-19, then secondly – at around five to seven days – the body will start making antibodies and have a more specific immune response tailored to the virus.
If someone’s immune system is operating at a higher level than normal, this is actually a bad thing. Having an overactive immune response can cause an autoimmune reaction, when the body mistakingly starts to attack its own healthy tissues and organs.
“If it goes into overdrive, we’ll actually damage our own bodies and that’s what we see with severe COVID,” explains Macciochi. “With a lot of the people who are hospitalized with COVID, it’s actually because their immune system has gone a bit over the top.”
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OK, but isn’t having a strong immune system a good thing?
It’s a common misconception to talk about the immune system as a binary of “weak” or “strong,” Macciochi says. Instead, the system represents a “hugely complex dance that’s happening between many different components.”
“It’s like an orchestra,” she explains, “it all has to play together for the song to sound correct. If one of the instruments is screeching in the background, it knocks everything else out.”
K Neville via Getty Images
We inherit some of the key components of our immune systems through our genes, making them unique. “Some people suffer colds really badly, for example, but they never get a stomach upset,” explains Macciochi. “There’s inherent differences in us.”
Everyone has their own individual base level of immunity, let’s call this 100%. While you can’t “boost” your immune system to work at 110% – or make yourself magically immune to COVID-19 – you can support it to function at its fullest.
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“Potentially, you’re sort of giving yourself the best chance of not having COVID-19 too severely and recovering,” Macciochi says.
How can you give your immune system the best shot?
Eating a balanced diet to ensure you’re not deficient in any key nutrients is a key way to help your immune system function at its best.
“That’s not just the classic vitamin C and zinc, but all the essential nutrients and getting enough protein, because that’s the building block of all the cells and antibodies of our immune system,” Macciochi says.
Taking care of the gut is a good idea for health in general, as is aiming for 30 different plant foods per week, she says. You should also focus on “diversity of dietary fiber,” which means eating a variety of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
Unfortunately, psychological stress has been found to hinder the immune system – something unavoidable in the global pandemic. But Macciochi says getting enough rest and good quality sleep can help.
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Johner Images via Getty Images
What about those vitamin D headlines?
In short, the jury is still out. There’s been much debate about the use of vitamin D supplements to fight COVID-19.
A paper published in the Lancet journal casts some doubt on the evidence to date, saying “laboratory data relating to effects of vitamin D on host responses to SARS-CoV-2 specifically are scarce.” The authors say we need further studies before making firm conclusions, but add “there is nothing to lose” from considering vitamin D supplements.
Macciochi says vitamin D is the one supplement people may want to consider taking, as it’s hard to get from food alone. But she urges caution in seeing any supplement – including vitamin D – as a solution and emphasizes that we need to follow guidelines on social distancing, masks and good hygiene practices as the priority.
“Be aware of marketing claims as supplements are able to state their product is good for immunity if it contains a key nutrients needed by our immune system,” she says. “No supplement will be a magic quick fix because health is complex – and the immune system is mind-bogglingly complex.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Tests Positive For COVID-19

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump , several GOP lawmakers , and White House and Trump campaign officials have all reported testing positive in recent days .
McEnany has given at least two two White House press briefings — without wearing a mask — in the last week .
Early Friday morning , the White House announced that Trump and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive , shortly after top Trump aide Hope Hicks tested positive .
Hicks had been part of the team that traveled with Trump to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By Friday afternoon , Trump was hospitalized at Walter Reed .
Throughout the weekend , White House officials gave conflicting information about the president ’ s condition , appearing to try to downplay the severity of the virus .
A growing number of officials , from GOP lawmakers to White House aides and members of Trump ’ s reelection campaign , have also since tested positive for the virus .
Many of the positive cases involve people who on Sept. 26 attended a Rose Garden ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett , Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The attendees were gathered with no masks and did not attempt to socially distance .
Members of Trump ’ s family were also seen flouting mask-wearing guidelines during the debate .
Trump , who has perpetually downplayed the severity of the coronavirus — even as more than 200,000 Americans have died from it — has repeatedly ridiculed Democratic opponent Joe Biden for wearing face masks during campaign events .
During the debate last week , Biden pointed out that Trump rarely wears masks in public .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread scientific consensus that wearing masks greatly reduces the spread of the coronavirus .

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for COVID-19. President Donald Trump, several GOP lawmakers, and White House and Trump campaign officials have all reported testing positive in recent days.
McEnany has given at least two two White House press briefings — without wearing a mask — in the last week.
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Early Friday morning, the White House announced that Trump and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive, shortly after top Trump aide Hope Hicks tested positive. Hicks had been part of the team that traveled with Trump to the presidential debate in Cleveland last week.
By Friday afternoon, Trump was hospitalized at Walter Reed. Throughout the weekend, White House officials gave conflicting information about the president’s condition, appearing to try to downplay the severity of the virus.
A growing number of officials, from GOP lawmakers to White House aides and members of Trump’s reelection campaign, have also since tested positive for the virus.
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Many of the positive cases involve people who on Sept. 26 attended a Rose Garden ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s pick to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The attendees were gathered with no masks and did not attempt to socially distance.
Members of Trump’s family were also seen flouting mask-wearing guidelines during the debate.
Trump, who has perpetually downplayed the severity of the coronavirus — even as more than 200,000 Americans have died from it — has repeatedly ridiculed Democratic opponent Joe Biden for wearing face masks during campaign events. During the debate last week, Biden pointed out that Trump rarely wears masks in public. Trump mocked Biden for doing so, despite widespread scientific consensus that wearing masks greatly reduces the spread of the coronavirus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Doctor Warns Trump's Coronavirus Treatment Can Cause Psychosis, Mania

According to the Mayo Clinic , dexamethasone is a steroid that provides relief for inflammation and is used to treat conditions like arthritis , allergic reactions , breathing problems and skin diseases .
A study conducted earlier this year found that it helped reduced deaths by 35 % in COVID-19 patients who required breathing machines during their treatment and by 20 % in those who only needed supplemental oxygen , scientists said .
Notably , the drug does not appear to help patients who are not critically ill .
Patients who were given dexamethasone and did not need respiratory support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to patients who did not take the steroid .
Many people — including medical experts and people who say they have taken dexamethasone themselves — have shared what they know about the drug on social media .
Stanford Professor Michele Dauber wrote a Twitter thread about her experience with the drug , claiming that it “ seriously messes with your mind ” and that she “ could not wait to get off it.
” “ In addition to warning of mood changes my surgeon told me it makes you feel like I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run a marathon right after brain surgery when I still had staples in my head , ” she wrote .
Dr. Paul Summergrad , the chair of psychiatry at Tufts University , tweeted that when “ added to the risk of COVID related neuropsychiatric symptoms/severe delirium , ” the drug ’ s ability to cause “ frank mania , or more severe depressive states ” should prompt the press “ to be asking the medical team how they are formally monitoring his mental status.
” Trump did not help those already questioning his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of aggressive , all-caps tweets on Monday , beginning around 6 a.m .

According to the Mayo Clinic, dexamethasone is a steroid that provides relief for inflammation and is used to treat conditions like arthritis, allergic reactions, breathing problems and skin diseases. A study conducted earlier this year found that it helped reduced deaths by 35% in COVID-19 patients who required breathing machines during their treatment and by 20% in those who only needed supplemental oxygen, scientists said.
Notably, the drug does not appear to help patients who are not critically ill. Patients who were given dexamethasone and did not need respiratory support actually died at a higher rate when compared to patients who did not take the steroid.
Many people — including medical experts and people who say they have taken dexamethasone themselves — have shared what they know about the drug on social media.
Stanford Professor Michele Dauber wrote a Twitter thread about her experience with the drug, claiming that it “seriously messes with your mind” and that she “could not wait to get off it.”
“In addition to warning of mood changes my surgeon told me it makes you feel like I could bike up Mt. Tam or run a marathon right after brain surgery when I still had staples in my head,” she wrote.
Dr. Paul Summergrad, the chair of psychiatry at Tufts University, tweeted that when “added to the risk of COVID related neuropsychiatric symptoms/severe delirium,” the drug’s ability to cause “frank mania, or more severe depressive states” should prompt the press “to be asking the medical team how they are formally monitoring his mental status.”
Trump did not help those already questioning his mental state when he sent a series of aggressive, all-caps tweets on Monday, beginning around 6 a.m.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Trump Pushes For Monday Hospital Release

BETHESDA , Md .
( AP ) — President Donald Trump was hoping for a Monday discharge from the military hospital where he is being treated for COVID-19 , a day after he briefly ventured out while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade in a move that disregarded precautions meant to contain the deadly virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans .
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where doctors revealed on Sunday that his blood oxygen level dropped suddenly twice in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steroid typically only recommended for the very sick .
Still , the doctors said Trump ’ s health is improving and volunteered that he could be discharged as early as Monday to continue the remainder of his treatment at the White House .
“ This is an important day as the president continues to improve and is ready to get back to a normal work schedule , ” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News on Monday .
He said the determination on whether Trump would leave the hospital won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day after the president is evaluated by his medical team , but that Trump was “ optimistic ” he could be released Monday .
Less than one month until Election Day , Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness .
The still-infectious president surprised supporters who had gathered outside the hospital , driving by in a black SUV with the windows rolled up .
Secret Service agents inside the vehicle could be seen in masks and other protective gear .
The move capped a weekend of contradictions that fueled confusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has imperiled the leadership of the U.S. government and upended the final stages of the presidential campaign .
While Trump ’ s physician offered a rosy prognosis on his condition , his briefings lacked basic information , including the findings of lung scans , or were quickly muddled by more serious assessments of the president ’ s health by other officials .
“ This is insanity , ” Dr. James P. Phillips , an attending physician at Walter Reed who is a critic of Trump and his handling of the pandemic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that completely unnecessary presidential ‘ drive-by ’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days .
They might get sick .
They may die.
” Joe Biden ’ s campaign , meanwhile , said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday .
The results come five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump .
Biden , who has taken a far more cautious approach to in-person events , had two negative tests on Friday .
The White House has refused to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was tested before the debate , but the Cleveland Clinic , which co-hosted the event , said that Trump ’ s team certified the day of the debate that he and everyone who accompanied him in the debate hall had received a negative COVID-19 test .
“ I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude that the team , the president , that his course of illness has had , ” Conley said .
He said he “ didn ’ t want to give any information that might steer the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so , you know , it came off that we were trying to hide something , which wasn ’ t necessarily true .
The fact of the matter is that he ’ s doing really well.
” Even before Trump ’ s motorcade outing on Sunday , some Secret Service agents have expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House , but there isn ’ t much they can do , according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press .
This close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive .
Trump ’ s treatment with the steroid dexamethasone is in addition to the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus .
Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir , a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients .
The drugs work in different ways — the antibodies help the immune system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remdesivir curbs the virus ’ ability to multiply .

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BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump was hoping for a Monday discharge from the military hospital where he is being treated for COVID-19, a day after he briefly ventured out while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade in a move that disregarded precautions meant to contain the deadly virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans.
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where doctors revealed on Sunday that his blood oxygen level dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick. Still, the doctors said Trump’s health is improving and volunteered that he could be discharged as early as Monday to continue the remainder of his treatment at the White House.
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“This is an important day as the president continues to improve and is ready to get back to a normal work schedule,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News on Monday. He said the determination on whether Trump would leave the hospital won’t be made until later in the day after the president is evaluated by his medical team, but that Trump was “optimistic” he could be released Monday.
Less than one month until Election Day, Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness. The still-infectious president surprised supporters who had gathered outside the hospital, driving by in a black SUV with the windows rolled up. Secret Service agents inside the vehicle could be seen in masks and other protective gear.
The move capped a weekend of contradictions that fueled confusion about Trump’s health, which has imperiled the leadership of the U.S. government and upended the final stages of the presidential campaign. While Trump’s physician offered a rosy prognosis on his condition, his briefings lacked basic information, including the findings of lung scans, or were quickly muddled by more serious assessments of the president’s health by other officials.
In a short video released by the White House on Sunday, Trump insisted he understood the gravity of the moment. But his actions moments later, by leaving the hospital and sitting inside the SUV with others, suggested otherwise.
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“This is insanity,” Dr. James P. Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed who is a critic of Trump and his handling of the pandemic. “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.”
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump’s trip outside the hospital “was cleared by the medical team as safe to do.” He added that precautions were taken, including using personal protective equipment, to protect Trump as well as White House officials and Secret Service agents.
Joe Biden’s campaign, meanwhile, said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday. The results come five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump. Biden, who has taken a far more cautious approach to in-person events, had two negative tests on Friday.
The White House has refused to say when Trump last tested negative and whether he was tested before the debate, but the Cleveland Clinic, which co-hosted the event, said that Trump’s team certified the day of the debate that he and everyone who accompanied him in the debate hall had received a negative COVID-19 test.
For his part, Trump still faces questions about his health.
His doctors sidestepped questions on Sunday about exactly when Trump’s blood oxygen dropped — an episode they neglected to mention in multiple statements the day before — or whether lung scans showed any damage.
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It was the second straight day of obfuscation from a White House already suffering from a credibility crisis. And it raised more doubts about whether the doctors treating the president were sharing accurate, timely information with the American public about the severity of his condition.
Pressed about conflicting information he and the White House released on Saturday, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley acknowledged that he had tried to present a sunnier description of the president’s condition.
“I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude that the team, the president, that his course of illness has had,” Conley said. He said he “didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction. And in doing so, you know, it came off that we were trying to hide something, which wasn’t necessarily true. The fact of the matter is that he’s doing really well.”
Medical experts said Conley’s revelations were hard to square with his positive assessment and talk of a discharge.
“There’s a little bit of a disconnect,” said Dr. Steven Shapiro, chief medical and scientific officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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It was not clear for how long Trump’s recovery would continue at the White House once he is discharged.
According to CDC guidelines, “In general, transport and movement of a patient with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of their room should be limited to medically essential purposes.”
Even before Trump’s motorcade outing on Sunday, some Secret Service agents have expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House, but there isn’t much they can do, according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press. This close to the election, thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive.
The disclosures about Trump’s oxygen levels and steroid treatment suggested the president is enduring more than a mild case of COVID-19.
Blood oxygen saturation is a key health marker for COVID-19 patients. A normal reading is between 95 and 100. Conley said the president had a “high fever” and a blood oxygen level below 94% on Friday and during “another episode” on Saturday.
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He was evasive about the timing of the Trump oxygen drops. But he revealed that Trump was given a dose of the steroid dexamethasone in response. At the time of the briefing, Trump’s blood oxygen level was 98% — within normal rage, Trump’s medical team said.
Signs of pneumonia or other lung damage could be detected in scans before a patient feels short of breath, but the president’s doctors declined to say what those scans have revealed.
“There’s some expected findings, but nothing of any major clinical concern,” Conley said. He declined to outline those “expected findings.”
Asked about Conley’s lack of transparency, White House aide Alyssa Farah suggested the doctors were speaking as much to the president as to the American public: “When you’re treating a patient, you want to project confidence, you want to lift their spirits, and that was the intent.”
In all, nearly 7.4 million people have been infected in the United States, and few have access to the kind of around-the-clock attention and experimental treatments as Trump.
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Trump’s treatment with the steroid dexamethasone is in addition to the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus. Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients. The drugs work in different ways — the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus, and remdesivir curbs the virus’ ability to multiply.
Garibaldi, a specialist in pulmonary critical care, said the president was not showing any side effects of the drugs “that we can tell.”
The National Institutes of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines recommend against using dexamethasone in patients who do not require oxygen. It has only been proven to help in more serious cases. Among the concerns with earlier use is that steroids tamp down certain immune cells, hindering the body’s own ability to fight off infection.
Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese, putting him at higher risk of serious complications. First lady Melania Trump has remained at the White House as she recovers from her own bout with the virus.
___
Peoples reported from New York. Miller reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard, Jonathan Lemire and Aamer Madhani in Washington, and Bill Barrow in Wilmington, Del., and Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-05--Trump Leaves Hospital As Questions Mount Over COVID-19 Condition

The president walked unassisted from the hospital to a car and then boarded a Marine One flight back to the White House .
He did not take any questions from reporters but waved and gave a thumbs-up .
Upon his arrival at the White House , where staff had set up U.S. flags flanking the entrance , he walked up the front stairs and removed his mask while saluting Marine One .
White House physician Sean Conley said during a press briefing Monday that Trump is doing well , but “ he may not entirely be out of the woods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree that all our evaluations ― and most importantly , his clinical status ― support the president ’ s safe return home , where he ’ ll be surrounded by world-class medical care 24/7 , ” Conley said .
Though Trump ’ s medical team has repeatedly said he ’ s doing “ very well , ” Conley revealed Sunday that Trump ’ s blood oxygen levels have dropped below 95 % ― an important threshold ― at least twice since contracting the virus .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides had been “ very concerned ” a day earlier with the president ’ s symptoms , which have included a cough , fever , fatigue and at least two transient blood oxygen level dips since contracting the virus .
Conley said Monday that Trump hasn ’ t taken fever-reducing medications for 72 hours , but doctors online noted that the steroid the president has been prescribed to treat his infection ― dexamethasone ― can reduce fevers .
Following a transient drop in his blood oxygen level on Saturday , Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has been proven to reduce deaths among critically ill COVID-19 patients .
During the course of his illness , Trump has also been administered a single infusion of a virus antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and three doses of remdesevir , an antiviral drug authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients .
Trump will continue to be treated with dexamethasone after leaving Walter Reed and is expected to complete the full five-day course of remdesivir at the White House on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautiously optimistic and on guard because we ’ re in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that has received the therapies that [ Trump ] has so early in the course , ” Conley said .
Some medical experts have theorized that Trump ’ s condition is far worse than his doctors are letting on , given the treatments prescribed to the president .
Dexamethasone has only been shown to be beneficial in COVID-19 patients who require respiratory assistance from a ventilator or supplemental oxygen .
It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appear after being exposed to the virus , though symptom onset typically begins within four to five days of exposure , according to Harvard Medical School .
“ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid , ” he wrote in his tweet , referring to the virus that has killed more than 210,000 people nationwide .
“ Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago !
@

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President Donald Trump left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday evening, three days after revealing he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The president walked unassisted from the hospital to a car and then boarded a Marine One flight back to the White House. He did not take any questions from reporters but waved and gave a thumbs-up.
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Upon his arrival at the White House, where staff had set up U.S. flags flanking the entrance, he walked up the front stairs and removed his mask while saluting Marine One.
Coronavirus in Chief, Trump takes off mask as he returns to WH. pic.twitter.com/ukCyhU1Nv0 — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 5, 2020
White House physician Sean Conley said during a press briefing Monday that Trump is doing well, but “he may not entirely be out of the woods yet.”
“The team and I agree that all our evaluations ― and most importantly, his clinical status ― support the president’s safe return home, where he’ll be surrounded by world-class medical care 24/7,” Conley said.
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Trump was hospitalized Friday just hours after revealing that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus.
Though Trump’s medical team has repeatedly said he’s doing “very well,” Conley revealed Sunday that Trump’s blood oxygen levels have dropped below 95% ― an important threshold ― at least twice since contracting the virus.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Saturday that Trump’s doctors and aides had been “very concerned” a day earlier with the president’s symptoms, which have included a cough, fever, fatigue and at least two transient blood oxygen level dips since contracting the virus.
Trump’s doctors said Sunday that Trump hasn’t had a fever since Friday.
Conley on Monday refused to share key details about Trump’s condition, including the results of medical imaging performed on his lungs.
“I’m just not at liberty to discuss,” Conley told reporters.
Dr. Conley says he's "not at liberty to discuss" imaging done of Pres. Trump's lungs.
Reporter: "So you're actively not telling us what those lung scans showed?"
"There are HIPAA rules and regulations that restrict me in sharing certain things." https://t.co/WFV9kkYCAH pic.twitter.com/2X7Fwugrn8 — ABC News (@ABC) October 5, 2020
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Conley said Monday that Trump hasn’t taken fever-reducing medications for 72 hours, but doctors online noted that the steroid the president has been prescribed to treat his infection ― dexamethasone ― can reduce fevers.
Following a transient drop in his blood oxygen level on Saturday, Trump’s team administered a first dose of dexamethasone, which has been proven to reduce deaths among critically ill COVID-19 patients.
During the course of his illness, Trump has also been administered a single infusion of a virus antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and three doses of remdesevir, an antiviral drug authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Trump will continue to be treated with dexamethasone after leaving Walter Reed and is expected to complete the full five-day course of remdesivir at the White House on Tuesday, Conley said.
“We all remain cautiously optimistic and on guard because we’re in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that has received the therapies that [Trump] has so early in the course,” Conley said.
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Some medical experts have theorized that Trump’s condition is far worse than his doctors are letting on, given the treatments prescribed to the president. Dexamethasone has only been shown to be beneficial in COVID-19 patients who require respiratory assistance from a ventilator or supplemental oxygen.
After evading questions on Saturday about whether Trump had received any respiratory assistance, Conley revealed Sunday that the president had indeed received “limited” supplemental oxygen.
It can take three to 14 days for symptoms to appear after being exposed to the virus, though symptom onset typically begins within four to five days of exposure, according to Harvard Medical School.
Trump reportedly began showing symptoms Thursday, if not earlier.
Trump tweeted ahead of the press briefing Monday that he planned to leave Walter Reed later that night.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid,” he wrote in his tweet, referring to the virus that has killed more than 210,000 people nationwide. “Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
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Lydia O’Connor contributed to this report.