usatoday--2020-10-04--Trump reports feeling better, but here's why the next few days are 'the real test' in his COVID-19 b

Trump reports feeling better, but here's why the next few days are 'the real test' in his COVID-19 battle

President Donald Trump 's battle with COVID-19 will come to a critical turning point in the next few days as the disease tests his immune system .
On Saturday , Trump and his doctors acknowledged the importance of the coming days as the illness enters what White House physician Dr. Sean Conley called `` phase 2 . ''
In a video statement released Saturday evening from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Trump echoed the concern : `` I 'm starting to feel good .
You do n't know over the next period of a few days , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we 'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days . ''
The course of COVID-19 can be highly variable , but the next three to five days are likely to be crucial , physicians who have treated hundreds of coronavirus patients told USA TODAY .
Several days after symptoms of COVID-19 appear , the body 's immune system must make an important switch to fight the virus with precision — or possibly face life-threatening consequences .
Watch : Supporters outside hospital where Trump is staying Watch : Dr. Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump receiving oxygen COVID-19 patients can “ look pretty good for a few days , then they go south , ” said Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University .
That rapid deterioration can occur when the body 's immune system , unable to successfully target the virus , causes widespread collateral damage as it “ brings in the troops , ” Schaffner said .
A typical timeframe for patents ' decline is about five to 10 days after the person starts getting sick , said Dr. J. Randall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical care at the University of Washington school of medicine in Seattle .
Conley on Saturday said Trump is in his third day of fighting the virus .
During the early part of a patient 's COVID-19 illness , the body uses an `` agnostic '' immune response , said Dr. Greg Poland , director and founder of Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group .
It does n't know what it 's fighting , but realizes something potentially dangerous is occurring .
That 's called the innate immune system .
Key to a successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus itself .
That 's called the adaptive immune system .
To avoid serious illness , a patient 's innate and adaptive immune systems must stay in balance , and the virus itself must not cause serious complications along the way .
Age is a risk factor .
Older patients tend to be less successful in activating the adaptive response , according to Melissa Nolan , an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of South Carolina .
Trump turned 74 in June , putting him at 90-times higher risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But the course of COVID-19 can be highly variable .
The president 's VIP medical treatment and access to cutting-edge therapies make the trajectory of the illness even tougher to predict .
Patients tend to see short-term fluctuations in their symptoms throughout their illness , so doctors often evaluate a COVID-19 patient 's progress over the course of days , said Dr. David Eisenman , a professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health .
As of Saturday evening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not enough for him to evaluate Trump 's progress thus far .
Curtis said the fact that the president ’ s fever is improving is a good sign but doesn ’ t necessarily indicate he ’ s out of trouble .
“ We ’ re just going to wait and see . ''

Joel Shannon and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Trump reports feeling better, but next few days are 'the real test' in his COVID-19 battle
Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump delivers health update as he fights COVID-19 President Donald Trump thanked Walter Reed National Military Medical Center staff and even cracked a joke about his age as he fights COVID-19. USA TODAY Handout
President Donald Trump's battle with COVID-19 will come to a critical turning point in the next few days as the disease tests his immune system.
Saturday, White House physician Sean Conley said the illness is entering "phase 2."
In a video statement released Saturday evening from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump said, "I'm starting to feel good. You don't know over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days."
Several days after symptoms of COVID-19 appear, the body's immune system must make an important switch to fight the virus with precision – or possibly face life-threatening consequences.
Watch: Dr. Sean Conley did not answer several questions regarding Trump receiving oxygen
COVID-19 patients can “look pretty good for a few days, then they go south,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University.
Rapid deterioration can occur when the body's immune system, unable to target the virus, causes widespread collateral damage as it “brings in the troops,” Schaffner said.
A typical timeframe for patients' decline is five to 10 days after the person starts getting sick, said Dr. J. Randall Curtis, a professor of pulmonary and critical care at the University of Washington school of medicine in Seattle.
Conley said Saturday that Trump was in his third day of fighting the virus.
During the early part of a patient's COVID-19 illness, the body uses an "agnostic" immune response, said Dr. Greg Poland, director and founder of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group. It doesn't know what it's fighting but realizes something potentially dangerous is occurring. That's called the innate immune system.
Key to a successful recovery is an adaptive immune system response that targets the coronavirus.
To avoid serious illness, a patient's innate and adaptive immune systems must stay in balance, and the virus must not cause serious complications along the way.
Age is a risk factor. Older patients tend to be less successful in activating the adaptive response, according to Melissa Nolan, an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of South Carolina.
Trump turned 74 in June, putting him at 90 times higher risk of death than someone in their 20s, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The course of COVID-19 can be highly variable. The president's VIP medical treatment and access to cutting-edge therapies make the trajectory of the illness tougher to predict.
Related: Supporters outside hospital where Trump is staying
Patients tend to see short-term fluctuations in their symptoms throughout their illness, so doctors often evaluate a COVID-19 patient's progress over the course of days, said Dr. David Eisenman, a professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. As of Saturday evening, the information released by the White House was not enough for him to evaluate Trump's progress.
Curtis said the fact that the president’s fever is improving is a good sign but doesn’t necessarily indicate he’s out of trouble.
“We’re just going to wait and see," he said.
Contributing: Karen Weintraub


usatoday--2020-10-04--'It could have gone either way': What British leader Boris Johnson's COVID-19 battle may tell us abo

`` It could have gone either way , '' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a video message posted on April 12 as he reflected on his personal battle with COVID-19 .
It was 16 days after Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 and three days after he spent 72 hours in an intensive-care unit in central London , which he credited with saving his life .
Over the last few years , there have been many comparisons – some apt , others a stretch – made between Britain 's leader and President Donald Trump : the political polarization , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hairstyles .
Now , there 's a new one : Johnson may be one of the few world leaders who understands what Trump may be facing in the days and weeks ahead following his positive coronavirus diagnosis .
Trump and COVID-19 : President in hospital ; many infected at White House gathering Trump tests positive for COVID-19 : Here 's what we know .
Trump is currently receiving treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Hospital just outside Washington , D.C. , where the White House said he will spend the next few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic '' about the president 's condition Saturday but did not give a timetable for his discharge from the hospital .
First Lady Melania Trump and at least 10 other people who were in close proximity with the Trumps have also tested positive for the new coronavirus .
When Johnson tested positive for coronavirus in late March , he became the first world leader to publicly acknowledge his illness .
His descent into the clutches of a disease , which he later said he believed he had only a `` 50-50 '' chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Johnson vowed it would be `` business as usual '' because he , like Trump , had only `` mild symptoms '' – a slight fever .
He said he would continue to work in isolation from his official office and residence at No .
10 Downing Street in London and keep in constant touch with his Cabinet and lawmakers .
He would do this through , he said , the `` wizardry of modern technology , '' referring to applications such as Zoom and WhatsApp .
It got off to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his diagnosis , Johnson 's health secretary contracted the virus .
`` Although I am sequestered ...
I am absolutely confident we will beat it together , '' he said in a video message published on his social media accounts on April 1 .
At that point , he had been COVID-positive for four days .
A few days later , things still seemed to be going to plan .
Johnson appeared on the doorstep of Downing Street to `` Clap for Carers '' – applaud hospital staff and other emergency workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he looked unwell , even though aides insisted he would soon be on the mend , and it would n't be long before he could come out of isolation and get back to work full-tilt .
On April 5 , Downing Street released a very brief statement saying that Johnson had been admitted to the hospital for tests purely `` as a precautionary step '' because his symptoms were persisting almost 10 days after he tested positive .
It was then announced that Dominic Raab , Johnson 's foreign secretary , take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson was incapacitated .
But the prime minister , his aides insisted , was receiving `` excellent care '' and there was genuinely nothing to worry about .
Two days later , Johnson was in intensive care .
He was not put on a ventilator but later confirmed in media interviews that he received what he characterized as `` liters and liters '' of oxygen .
A succession plan was drawn up and there were also discussions about how to announce it .
Johnson admitted that he feared being near death .
Queen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , during the three nights that Johnson spent in the intensive care unit at London 's St. Thomas Hospital , the public was told only that he was there for `` close monitoring , '' that his condition remained stable and he was in `` good spirits . ''
In the 18-second video that Trump posted on Twitter on Friday , immediately before traveling to Walter Reed , he said : `` I think I 'm doing very well .
But we 're going to make sure that things work out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
So thank you very much . ''
Five hours later , another tweet : `` Going welI , I think !
Thank you to all .
LOVE !
!
! ''
Shortly before midnight , Sean Conley , the president 's physician , gave an update , saying in a memo that Trump was `` doing very well '' and has not required any supplemental oxygen , but that doctors have started treating him with the antiviral drug remdesivir .
Remdesivir been shown to shorten recovery time for some coronavirus patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president is doing `` very well . ''
He is not on oxygen or having trouble breathing .
However , the president ’ s vitals over the past day were `` very concerning '' and the next 48 hours will be critical for his care , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told the Associated Press on Saturday .
And Trump himself posted a video on Twitter saying he was doing well but that the next couple of days would be the `` real test . ''
Trump given remdesivir to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know about it Since the coronavirus outbreak began , doctors and scientists have stressed that those who test positive for the virus have responded in different ways .
Johnson 's doctors have not formally released information about which drugs he was treated with , but in March remdesivir was not being widely used .
Johnson , like Trump , is categorized as obese .
At 74 , Trump is 18 years older than Johnson .
Both men are considered to be at high-risk from the disease .
Britain 's leader left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks recovering at Chequers , the prime minister 's country retreat , before returning to work .
Opinion : I know the pain of COVID-19 , and how challenging recovery can be Johnson did not play down the threat of coronavirus as much as Trump did , but in its earliest stages he resisted calls for a lockdown .
In press statements , Johnson has repeatedly said that he owes his life to extremely dedicated hospital workers and staff .
`` They pulled my chestnuts out of the fire , no question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several weeks after he started back at work , Johnson often appeared to be short of breath in public appearances .
He visibly lost weight .
The prime minister said this was partly because he had taken up jogging .
He has denied reports in the British press that he is struggling to recover from coronavirus and plans to step down in six months .

'It could have gone either way': What British leader Boris Johnson's COVID-19 battle may tell us about Trump's
Show Caption Hide Caption Where Trump traveled the week before testing positive for COVID-19 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Here's a look at where he traveled the week before his diagnosis. USA TODAY
"It could have gone either way," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a video message posted April 12 as he reflected on his personal battle with COVID-19.
It was 16 days after Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 and three days after he spent 72 hours in an intensive care unit in central London, which he credited with saving his life.
Over the past few years, there have been many comparisons – some apt, others a stretch – made between Britain's leader and President Donald Trump: the political polarization, their distinctive hairstyles. Now, there's a new one: Johnson may be one of the few world leaders who understands what Trump faces in the days and weeks ahead after his positive coronavirus diagnosis.
Trump and COVID-19: President in hospital; many infected at White House gathering
Trump tests positive for COVID-19: Here's what we know.
Trump is receiving treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Hospital outside Washington, where the White House said he will spend the next few days. His doctors were "cautiously optimistic" about the president's condition Saturday but did not give a timetable for his discharge from the hospital.
First lady Melania Trump and at least 10 other people who were in close proximity with the Trumps also tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Boris Johnson's COVID-19 blueprint
When Johnson tested positive for coronavirus in late March, he became the first world leader to publicly acknowledge his illness. His descent into the clutches of a disease, which he said he believed he had a "50-50" chance of surviving, started slowly.
Initially, Johnson vowed it would be "business as usual" because he, like Trump, had only "mild symptoms" – a slight fever. He said he would continue to work in isolation from his official office and residence at No. 10 Downing St. in London and keep in constant touch with his Cabinet and lawmakers. He would do this through, he said, the "wizardry of modern technology," referring to applications such as Zoom and WhatsApp.
'Likely outcome':Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis followed waning precautions at White House
Within a few hours of his diagnosis, Johnson's health secretary contracted the virus.
Still, Johnson remained upbeat.
"Although I am sequestered ... I am absolutely confident we will beat it together," he said in a video message published on his social media accounts on April 1.
He had been COVID-19-positive for four days.
A few days later, Johnson appeared on the doorstep of Downing Street to "Clap for Carers" – applaud hospital staff and other emergency workers battling the epidemic.
He looked unwell, though aides insisted he would soon be on the mend, and it wouldn't be long before he could come out of isolation and get back to work full-tilt.
Then, a change.
On April 5, Downing Street released a very brief statement saying that Johnson had been admitted to a hospital for tests purely "as a precautionary step" because his symptoms persisted almost 10 days after he tested positive.
Questions swirled.
It was announced that Dominic Raab, Johnson's foreign secretary, would take over the running of the government if Johnson was incapacitated. But the prime minister, his aides insisted, was receiving "excellent care," and there was genuinely nothing to worry about.
Two days later, Johnson was in intensive care.
He was not put on a ventilator but confirmed later in media interviews that he received what he characterized as "liters and liters" of oxygen. A succession plan was drawn up, and there were discussions about how to announce it.
Johnson admitted he feared being near death.
World reacts: President Donald Trump's coronavirus infection draws international sympathy and a degree of schadenfreude
Queen Elizabeth II was briefed on the situation.
"They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," Johnson told a British newspaper.
During the three nights that Johnson spent in the intensive care unit at London's St. Thomas Hospital, the public was told only that he was there for "close monitoring," that his condition remained stable and he was in "good spirits."
Higher risk for severe illness
In an 18-second video Trump posted on Twitter on Friday, immediately before traveling to Walter Reed, he said, "I think I'm doing very well. But we're going to make sure that things work out. The first lady is doing very well. So thank you very much."
Five hours later, another tweet: "Going welI, I think! Thank you to all. LOVE!!!"
Shortly before midnight, Sean Conley, the president's physician, gave an update, saying in a memo that Trump was "doing very well" and did not require any supplemental oxygen but that doctors started treating him with the antiviral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir has shortened recovery time for some coronavirus patients.
Saturday, Conley said the president was still doing "very well." He was not on oxygen or having trouble breathing, and he was fever-free.
The president’s vitals over the past day were "very concerning" and the next 48 hours would be critical for his care, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Trump posted a video on Twitter saying he was doing well, but the next couple of days would be the "real test."
Trump given remdesivir to fight COVID-19: Here's what you need to know about it
Since the coronavirus outbreak began, doctors and scientists have stressed that those who test positive for the virus respond in different ways.
Johnson's doctors have not formally released information about which drugs he was treated with, but in March. remdesivir was not widely used.
Johnson, like Trump, is categorized as obese. At 74, Trump is 18 years older than Johnson. Both men are at high risk from the disease.
Britain's leader left the hospital April 9, then spent two weeks recovering at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat, before returning to work.
Opinion: I know the pain of COVID-19 and how challenging recovery can be
Johnson did not play down the threat of coronavirus as much as Trump did, but in its earliest stages, he resisted calls for a lockdown.
In news statements, Johnson has repeatedly said that he owes his life to extremely dedicated hospital workers and staff.
"They pulled my chestnuts out of the fire, no question," he said.
Several weeks after he started back at work, Johnson often appeared to be short of breath in public appearances. He lost weight. The prime minister said this was partly because he had taken up jogging. He denied reports in the British media that he is struggling to recover from coronavirus and plans to step down in six months.


usatoday--2020-10-04--Report: Saints fullback Michael Burton tests positive for COVID-19 after team arrives in Detroit

The Week 4 matchup between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints , scheduled for 1 p.m .
ET Sunday , appeared threatened after a Saints player reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 late Saturday night .
Pro Football Talk reported that Saints fullback Michael Burton tested positive .
The team received the positive test after arriving in Detroit , prompting a round of additional tests for players seated near Burton on the team ’ s plane .
The NFL has already postponed two games this weekend due to positive COVID-19 tests .
Earlier in the week , the game between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifted to Week 7 after more than a dozen members of the Titans organization , including multiple players , tested positive for the virus .
On Saturday , a positive test for quarterback Cam Newton forced the movement of Sunday ’ s marquee game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs to Monday or Tuesday , according to the NFL .
Under the NFL 's protocol , Burton , assuming he is asymptomatic , will be retested to avoid a `` false positive . ''
Two consecutive negative tests the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sit out .
The protocol was changed in August after Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tested positive during the third round of tests prior to the start of in-person training camp and was placed on the league 's reserve/COVID-19 list .
Subsequent tests came back negative for Stafford and he was allowed to practice with the team .
According to a memo sent to all club presidents , general managers and head coaches from NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills , a player with two negative follow-up tests `` is not considered COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including access to the facility . ''
In August , Sills said the COVID-19 testing the NFL uses is `` incredibly accurate at detecting the targets , '' small bits of RNA that match the sequence of the virus .
`` But as I said before , you can have those small bits of RNA present for a lot of different reasons that don ’ t reflect a new and active infection , '' he said in a conference call Friday .
`` So I think that ’ s a hard thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us would like these tests to operate like a home pregnancy test , right ?
It ’ s either positive or negative , there ’ s nothing else but two possible outcomes .
And that ’ s simply not the way that these COVID tests operate and I think that ’ s a difficult message and one that ’ s hard to get our brains wrapped around , but it reflects the lack of being able to have a direct viral test that actively cultures the virus . ''
Burton was drafted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round and spent his first two seasons with Detroit .
The New Jersey native is in his first season with New Orleans after playing for Chicago and Washington .

Report: Saints fullback Michael Burton tests positive for COVID-19 after team arrives in Detroit
The Week 4 matchup between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Sunday, appeared threatened after a Saints player reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 late Saturday night.
Pro Football Talk reported that Saints fullback Michael Burton tested positive. The team received the positive test after arriving in Detroit, prompting a round of additional tests for players seated near Burton on the team’s plane.
The NFL has already postponed two games this weekend due to positive COVID-19 tests. Earlier in the week, the game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers was shifted to Week 7 after more than a dozen members of the Titans organization, including multiple players, tested positive for the virus. On Saturday, a positive test for quarterback Cam Newton forced the movement of Sunday’s marquee game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs to Monday or Tuesday, according to the NFL.
Per source, the Saints, who are in Detroit, have a player who has tested positive for COVID-19. Testing currently is occurring of those who were in contact with the player, who was on the flight from New Orleans. — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 4, 2020
Under the NFL's protocol, Burton, assuming he is asymptomatic, will be retested to avoid a "false positive." Two consecutive negative tests the following day are required to avoid being forced to sit out.
The protocol was changed in August after Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tested positive during the third round of tests prior to the start of in-person training camp and was placed on the league's reserve/COVID-19 list. Subsequent tests came back negative for Stafford and he was allowed to practice with the team.
According to a memo sent to all club presidents, general managers and head coaches from NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills, a player with two negative follow-up tests "is not considered COVID positive and may resume all normal activity, including access to the facility."
In August, Sills said the COVID-19 testing the NFL uses is "incredibly accurate at detecting the targets," small bits of RNA that match the sequence of the virus.
"But as I said before, you can have those small bits of RNA present for a lot of different reasons that don’t reflect a new and active infection," he said in a conference call Friday. "So I think that’s a hard thing to understand because I think all of us would like these tests to operate like a home pregnancy test, right? It’s either positive or negative, there’s nothing else but two possible outcomes. And that’s simply not the way that these COVID tests operate and I think that’s a difficult message and one that’s hard to get our brains wrapped around, but it reflects the lack of being able to have a direct viral test that actively cultures the virus."
Burton was drafted by the Lions in 2015 in the fifth round and spent his first two seasons with Detroit. The New Jersey native is in his first season with New Orleans after playing for Chicago and Washington.
Contributing: Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press.


usatoday--2020-10-04--Charles Haeger, former MLB player suspected of killing ex-girlfriend, found dead of self-inflicted g

Former professional baseball player Charles Haeger , 37 , who is suspected of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend , was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a Grand Canyon trail Saturday evening .
Police say Haeger killed 34-year-old Danielle Breed on Friday night before fleeing .
His abandoned grey 2020 Chrysler Voyager was found near Flagstaff on Saturday .
Officials said Haeger was found dead of an self-inflicted gunshot wound along the Rim Trail at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon around 4 p.m. , according to police .
Haeger was a former pitcher who logged 83 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sox , San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006-10 .
His major league career ended in 2010 .
Breed owned The Tipsy Coyote Bar and Grill in Scottsdale .
Scottsdale police responded to a call about the sound of gunfire on Friday and arrived at a residence near North Hayden Road and East McCormick Parkway around 6:50 p.m .
Breed 's roommate reportedly returned to his home and heard shots coming from her room , police said .
Moments later , he saw Haeger come out of the room holding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the roommate , according to police , but the roommate was able to get away and call 911 .
The Scottsdale Police SWAT team was on the scene , and barricades were used in an attempt to stop the suspect from fleeing , but Haeger managed to evade police .
The investigation is ongoing , police said .

Charles Haeger, former MLB player suspected of killing ex-girlfriend, found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound
Former professional baseball player Charles Haeger, 37, who is suspected of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a Grand Canyon trail Saturday evening.
Police say Haeger killed 34-year-old Danielle Breed on Friday night before fleeing. His abandoned grey 2020 Chrysler Voyager was found near Flagstaff on Saturday.
Officials said Haeger was found dead of an self-inflicted gunshot wound along the Rim Trail at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon around 4 p.m., according to police.
Haeger was a former pitcher who logged 83 career big-league innings with the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006-10. His major league career ended in 2010.
Breed owned The Tipsy Coyote Bar and Grill in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale police responded to a call about the sound of gunfire on Friday and arrived at a residence near North Hayden Road and East McCormick Parkway around 6:50 p.m.
Breed's roommate reportedly returned to his home and heard shots coming from her room, police said. Moments later, he saw Haeger come out of the room holding a handgun. Haeger then pointed the gun at the roommate, according to police, but the roommate was able to get away and call 911.
The Scottsdale Police SWAT team was on the scene, and barricades were used in an attempt to stop the suspect from fleeing, but Haeger managed to evade police.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.


usatoday--2020-10-04--NFL Week 4 roundtable: Which of last year's playoff teams are in most trouble?

With September over , several NFL teams already find themselves with substantial ground to make up in the standings .
Entering Sunday , there are still seven teams — including three that made the playoffs last year — that are without a win .
And while two of those squads — the Eagles and the Bengals — tied last week , the outlook for groups that go winless through the first quarter of the season is grim .
Since the NFL expanded its playoff format in 1990 , the 1992 Chargers are the only team to go 0-4 and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of course , the expansion to permit seven teams per conference in the playoffs will provide a bit more leeway for any struggling contenders , but many of them still face a time crunch to get back on track .
With that in mind , we asked writers and columnists from USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network : Which two playoff teams from last season are at most risk of missing the postseason this year ?
Philadelphia and Houston .
I ’ ll go out on a limb here and declare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no wild-card team coming out of the NFC East .
Sure , in Week 4 it ’ s still a mathematical possibility .
But it ’ s the weakest division in football .
So , it ’ s division champ or else .
That ’ s actually the good news for Philly .
The Eagles are 0-2-1 but are just a half-game ( or an Atlanta onside kick recovery ) from being in first place .
All that said , there ’ s still little room for ( more ) error because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the division .
Meanwhile , the Texans have two teams to sweat in the AFC South , Indy and Tennessee .
And they don ’ t have DeAndre Hopkins , anymore .
Got ta feel for Deshaun Watson .
Can you call it a “ must-win ” game in Week 4 ?
Yep .
Both Vikings and Texans are 0-3 .
Hello , Desperation Bowl .
Admittedly a low-hanging fruit answer , but I ’ d have to cite the Vikings and Texans – a pair of 0-3 teams that meet Sunday at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an elimination game .
The Texans recovered from an 0-3 start two years ago to win the AFC South with an 11-5 record , but another 11-2 surge seems far less likely – especially given what appear to be four tough division games ahead against the Titans and Colts , who are a combined 5-1 .
The Vikings are already three games behind both the Packers and Bears after three weeks … tough ditch to dig out of , especially with Seattle , Atlanta and Green Bay looming after Minnesota ’ s date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch Sunday ?
The Vikes ’ inexperienced corners not covering DeAndre Hopkins … which sums up these 2020 teams in a way .
The good news for the Texans and Vikings is that , save for a COVID-19 postponement or tie , one squad will leave this weekend ’ s matchup with its first win .
The bad news is that each team still needs help at offensive line , on defense and more if they want to mount playoff hopes to follow up 2019 campaigns where they each won a wild-card game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistically boosts every team ’ s chance of advancing to the postseason .
But Green Bay seems destined for another NFC North bid , while a deep NFC West ( every team has won at least two ) is threatening to hog wild-card bids .
Minnesota needs personnel answers , including at spots it lost talented stars in the last year , before it can move forward .
Houston has its quarterback of the future locked up in Deshaun Watson , but who ’ s building that future with him ?
No receiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards from scrimmage per game ( cue DeAndre Hopkins , with 118.7 receiving yards per game , waving from Arizona ) .
Houston will hope that things improve after its brutal season start against NFL tone-setters Kansas City , Baltimore and Pittsburgh .
The Texans got rid of their best offensive weapon ( DeAndre Hopkins ) , intensifying the pressure on Deshaun Watson , and now at 0-3 , they have only a 3.2 % chance of making the playoffs .
The Titans look like the best team in the AFC South , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams with better shots at a wild-card berth than Houston .
Meanwhile , the Vikings also are struggling after trading their top deep threat , Stefon Diggs , to Buffalo .
They focused on upgrading their defense this offseason , but the offense – particularly quarterback Kirk Cousins – has really regressed .
Cousins has thrown six interceptions and only five touchdown passes through three games .
( He threw only six picks all of last season ) .
And his unit is converting only 36 % of their third downs for first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It seems likely unlikely that they would catch the Packers in the division , and it wouldn ’ t surprise me if three NFC West teams make the postseason .
The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles .
The 0-3 Vikings already trail a pair of NFC North rivals ( Bears and Packers ) by three games .
Their division hopes are toast .
And with the NFC West so loaded , a wild card seems unfathomable .
The Eagles still have time to bounce back in the dismal East , but their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutal .
They very well may be 0-5-1 in three weeks after games against San Francisco , Pittsburgh and Baltimore .
The Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings .
They ’ re both 0-3 and face difficult schedules full of playoff contenders the rest of the way .
The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably looked worse than either the Texans or Vikings , but the NFC East so far looks like the perfect division for a team that starts 0-2-1 to come back and win .
I ’ m going with the Eagles and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although the NFC East looks so weak that a team might win the division going 8-8 , it ’ s not going to be the Eagles .
They ’ re just too beat up and they look too disjointed .
If they ’ re going to get things right , it ’ ll be because of their defense , but it ’ s still a long shot .
As for the 49ers , they ’ re 2-1 but the it ’ s difficult to believe the defending NFC champions can return to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries to so many key players , Nick Bosa chief among them .
There ’ s enough depth to keep them competitive , to be sure , but they play in the toughest division in football and it ’ s reasonable to assume the Seahawks will finish ahead of them and that a team like the Rams and/or Cardinals could sneak into the playoffs ahead of the 49ers .

NFL Week 4 roundtable: Which of last year's playoff teams are in most trouble?
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Three best bets to consider for NFL Week 4 SportsPulse: Lorenzo's picks have been like clock work going 2-1 each of the first three weeks of the season. For Week 4 he gives his three locks hoping to finally have the perfect weekend. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
With September over, several NFL teams already find themselves with substantial ground to make up in the standings.
Entering Sunday, there are still seven teams — including three that made the playoffs last year — that are without a win. And while two of those squads — the Eagles and the Bengals — tied last week, the outlook for groups that go winless through the first quarter of the season is grim. Since the NFL expanded its playoff format in 1990, the 1992 Chargers are the only team to go 0-4 and then make it into the postseason field. Of course, the expansion to permit seven teams per conference in the playoffs will provide a bit more leeway for any struggling contenders, but many of them still face a time crunch to get back on track.
With that in mind, we asked writers and columnists from USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network: Which two playoff teams from last season are at most risk of missing the postseason this year?
Their answers:
Philadelphia and Houston. I’ll go out on a limb here and declare that like last year, there will be no wild-card team coming out of the NFC East. Sure, in Week 4 it’s still a mathematical possibility. But it’s the weakest division in football. So, it’s division champ or else. That’s actually the good news for Philly. The Eagles are 0-2-1 but are just a half-game (or an Atlanta onside kick recovery) from being in first place. All that said, there’s still little room for (more) error because the Cowboys have the best offense in the division. Meanwhile, the Texans have two teams to sweat in the AFC South, Indy and Tennessee. And they don’t have DeAndre Hopkins, anymore. Gotta feel for Deshaun Watson. Can you call it a “must-win” game in Week 4? Yep. Both Vikings and Texans are 0-3. Hello, Desperation Bowl.
Admittedly a low-hanging fruit answer, but I’d have to cite the Vikings and Texans – a pair of 0-3 teams that meet Sunday at Houston in what’s tantamount to an elimination game. The Texans recovered from an 0-3 start two years ago to win the AFC South with an 11-5 record, but another 11-2 surge seems far less likely – especially given what appear to be four tough division games ahead against the Titans and Colts, who are a combined 5-1. The Vikings are already three games behind both the Packers and Bears after three weeks … tough ditch to dig out of, especially with Seattle, Atlanta and Green Bay looming after Minnesota’s date with the Texans. Matchup not to watch Sunday? The Vikes’ inexperienced corners not covering DeAndre Hopkins … which sums up these 2020 teams in a way.
The good news for the Texans and Vikings is that, save for a COVID-19 postponement or tie, one squad will leave this weekend’s matchup with its first win. The bad news is that each team still needs help at offensive line, on defense and more if they want to mount playoff hopes to follow up 2019 campaigns where they each won a wild-card game. Sure, the expanded playoff field statistically boosts every team’s chance of advancing to the postseason. But Green Bay seems destined for another NFC North bid, while a deep NFC West (every team has won at least two) is threatening to hog wild-card bids. Minnesota needs personnel answers, including at spots it lost talented stars in the last year, before it can move forward. Houston has its quarterback of the future locked up in Deshaun Watson, but who’s building that future with him? No receiver or running back is averaging even 70 yards from scrimmage per game (cue DeAndre Hopkins, with 118.7 receiving yards per game, waving from Arizona). Houston will hope that things improve after its brutal season start against NFL tone-setters Kansas City, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
The Texans got rid of their best offensive weapon (DeAndre Hopkins), intensifying the pressure on Deshaun Watson, and now at 0-3, they have only a 3.2% chance of making the playoffs. The Titans look like the best team in the AFC South, and there are too many other AFC teams with better shots at a wild-card berth than Houston.
Meanwhile, the Vikings also are struggling after trading their top deep threat, Stefon Diggs, to Buffalo. They focused on upgrading their defense this offseason, but the offense – particularly quarterback Kirk Cousins – has really regressed. Cousins has thrown six interceptions and only five touchdown passes through three games. (He threw only six picks all of last season). And his unit is converting only 36% of their third downs for first downs (sixth-worst in the league). It seems likely unlikely that they would catch the Packers in the division, and it wouldn’t surprise me if three NFC West teams make the postseason.
The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. The 0-3 Vikings already trail a pair of NFC North rivals (Bears and Packers) by three games. Their division hopes are toast. And with the NFC West so loaded, a wild card seems unfathomable. The Eagles still have time to bounce back in the dismal East, but their schedule the rest of the way is brutal. They very well may be 0-5-1 in three weeks after games against San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
The Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings. They’re both 0-3 and face difficult schedules full of playoff contenders the rest of the way. The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably looked worse than either the Texans or Vikings, but the NFC East so far looks like the perfect division for a team that starts 0-2-1 to come back and win.
I’m going with the Eagles and the 49ers. Philadelphia is already 0-2-1 and although the NFC East looks so weak that a team might win the division going 8-8, it’s not going to be the Eagles. They’re just too beat up and they look too disjointed. If they’re going to get things right, it’ll be because of their defense, but it’s still a long shot. As for the 49ers, they’re 2-1 but the it’s difficult to believe the defending NFC champions can return to the playoffs after dealing with so many devastating injuries to so many key players, Nick Bosa chief among them. There’s enough depth to keep them competitive, to be sure, but they play in the toughest division in football and it’s reasonable to assume the Seahawks will finish ahead of them and that a team like the Rams and/or Cardinals could sneak into the playoffs ahead of the 49ers.


usatoday--2020-10-03--After Trumps' diagnosis: Vaccine or not, COVID-19 isn't going away

The news that the president and first lady have been diagnosed with COVID-19 should serve as a stark reminder that this pandemic isn ’ t going anywhere soon .
We ’ ve been living in a world with conflicting narratives about the scientific understanding of the coronavirus , and what the path forward is to prevent suffering and to save lives .
People are understandably confused about what to believe .
This confusion becomes all the more dangerous as we enter flu season and as the optimism about a vaccine might tempt the United States to let her guard down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the dawn of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 , and we understood at the time that a full-blown pandemic as we ’ re experiencing today would be a marathon , not a sprint .
This moment is an opportunity for our nation to bring clarity of mission and focus to a pandemic that should be apolitical .
Here are five reasons why the finish line of the coronavirus pandemic is nowhere in sight , and why Americans and our government must remain vigilant : 1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainty .
Vaccines vary in how protective they are and how much they reduce transmission .
Whereas the smallpox vaccine and measles vaccine are more than 95 % protective , the influenza vaccine — still the best way to reduce the risk of flu — some years reduces the risk by less than 50 % .
At this point we can not be certain that there will be a vaccine , and even if there is , how effective it will be .
2 .
Cold weather and low humidity are the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer heat would cause the coronavirus to wilt never came to be .
The U.S. experienced the opposite , in fact , as Americans began to relax , socialize and resume pre-pandemic life .
These behaviors led to spikes across the Sun Belt and other parts of the country .
As we now see infection levels decline in many of those former summer hot spots , we must remember that cold weather will drive us indoors , where close proximity makes spread more likely , and the change in weather keeps viruses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
3 .
Most Americans are still vulnerable to infection .
Though this year might feel like a lifetime for many of us , the pandemic is still early in its lifecycle .
The deaths of more than 200,000 people in this country is a weighty and tragic milestone , but it is not an indication that most people have been infected .
CDC Director Robert Redfield asserted this past week that 90 % of the U.S. population is still susceptible to the virus .
This is an indication that the risk across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
4 .
America ’ s economic wounds will not heal soon .
A public health emergency often becomes a one-two punch for the general population , with the medical concerns first and the economic fallout close behind .
This pandemic illustrated that in a devastating way .
And even today , the unemployment numbers show that the nation has only recovered about half of the 22 million jobs shed since spring .
The disproportionate impact on people of color and low-income Americans — both in health outcomes and economic suffering — must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neera Tanden : Like Trump , I know the pain of COVID , and how challenging recovery can be The Cares Act signed in late March that provided everything from food assistance to housing eviction moratoriums to unemployment assistance is running on fiscal fumes , and many of the supports have already expired or will expire by year ’ s end .
In addition , the nation still needs support and funding for testing , for personal protective equipment and for basic health care services being taxed during a pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the pandemic need our attention during and after it .
Every person in this country should be able to follow basic CDC guidelines should they become infected .
5 .
A vaccine for kids is at least a year away .
As a parent and pediatrician , I understand the importance of getting children back into school .
It ’ s vital in so many ways .
And though we ’ ve seen that children fare much better with COVID-19 than adults , the threat of hospitalization and unknown complications down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shown to contribute to the spread of the virus , yet a vaccine suitable for children might not be available until fall of 2021 , at the earliest .
With more than 70 million children in the U.S. who might not be inoculated in the next year , we must resist the temptation to let our guard down , whether in our schools , homes or communities .
We must ensure that all schools have the resources to reduce the risk as much as possible for students , teachers and staff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ property taxes , we must allocate federal dollars so that all children have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment .
Editorial : On President Donald Trump and COVID-19 , just tell the truth to the American people Can we get to a place of common humanity in how we view one another and how we view all people ’ s needs and concerns ?
Can we use this defining moment of the pandemic to reset our thinking and our priorities so that the most vulnerable communities — Black , Latino and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the support they need to survive this pandemic and thrive in its wake ?
We should be grateful that we live in a country in which our leaders at the highest levels of government can receive the best care in times of crisis .
And we should do all we can as a nation to ensure that every person in this country has the support they need , whether they live on Pennsylvania Avenue or Main Street , USA .
Dr. Richard E. Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow him on Twitter : @ DrRichBesser

Dr. Richard E. Besser, Opinion contributor

After Trumps' diagnosis: Vaccine or not, COVID-19 isn’t going away First family’s diagnoses should serve as a reminder that we must remain vigilant
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The news that the president and first lady have been diagnosed with COVID-19 should serve as a stark reminder that this pandemic isn’t going anywhere soon.
We’ve been living in a world with conflicting narratives about the scientific understanding of the coronavirus and what the path forward is to prevent suffering and to save lives. People are understandably confused about what to believe. This confusion becomes all the more dangerous as we enter flu season and as the optimism about a vaccine might tempt the United States to let her guard down.
I was acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the dawn of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, and we understood at the time that a full-blown pandemic as we’re experiencing today would be a marathon, not a sprint. This moment is an opportunity for our nation to bring clarity of mission and focus to a pandemic that should be apolitical. Here are five reasons why the finish line of the coronavirus pandemic is nowhere in sight, and why Americans and our government must remain vigilant:
1. A gold-standard vaccine isn’t a certainty. Vaccines vary in how protective they are and how much they reduce transmission. Whereas the smallpox vaccine and measles vaccine are more than 95% protective, the influenza vaccine — still the best way to reduce the risk of flu — some years reduces the risk by less than 50%. At this point, we cannot be certain that there will be a vaccine and, even if there is, how effective it will be.
2. Cold weather and low humidity are the virus’ friends. The hope that the summer heat would cause the coronavirus to wilt never came to be. The United States experienced the opposite, in fact, as Americans began to relax, socialize and resume pre-pandemic life. These behaviors led to spikes across the Sun Belt and other parts of the country. As we now see infection levels decline in many of those former summer hot spots, we must remember that cold weather will drive us indoors, where close proximity makes spread more likely, and the change in weather keeps viruses in the air for longer periods of time.
3. Most Americans are still vulnerable to infection. Though this year might feel like a lifetime for many of us, the pandemic is still early in its life cycle. The deaths of 210,000 people in this country is a weighty and tragic milestone, but it is not an indication that most people have been infected. CDC Director Robert Redfield asserted recently that 90% of the U.S. population is still susceptible to the virus. This is an indication that the risk across the nation has not been significantly diminished.
4. America’s economic wounds will not heal soon. A public health emergency often becomes a one-two punch for the general population, with the medical concerns first and the economic fallout close behind. This pandemic illustrated that in a devastating way. And even today, the unemployment numbers show that the nation has recovered less than half of the 22 million jobs shed since spring. The disproportionate impact on people of color and low-income Americans — both in health outcomes and economic suffering — must drive any short- or long-term policy considerations.
Neera Tanden: I know the pain of COVID, and how challenging recovery can be
The coronavirus rescue package signed in late March that provided everything from food assistance to housing eviction moratoriums to unemployment assistance is running on fiscal fumes, and many of the supports have already expired or will expire by year’s end. In addition, the nation still needs support and funding for testing, for personal protective equipment and for basic health care services being taxed during a pandemic. The structural vulnerabilities that plagued too many communities before the pandemic need our attention during and after it. Every person in this country should be able to follow basic CDC guidelines if they become infected.
5. A vaccine for kids is at least a year away. As a parent and pediatrician, I understand the importance of getting children back into school. It’s vital in so many ways. And though we’ve seen that children fare much better with COVID-19 than adults, the threat of hospitalization and unknown complications down the road is real. Kids have also been shown to contribute to the spread of the virus, yet a vaccine suitable for children might not be available until next fall at the earliest.
With millions of children in the United States who might not be inoculated in the next year, we must resist the temptation to let our guard down, whether in our schools, homes or communities. We must ensure that all schools have the resources to reduce the risk as much as possible for students, teachers and staff. Given that schools are largely funded by property taxes, we must allocate federal dollars so that all children have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment.
Our View: On President Donald Trump and COVID-19, just tell the truth to the American people
Can we get to a place of common humanity in how we view one another and how we view all people’s needs and concerns? Can we use this defining moment of the pandemic to reset our thinking and our priorities so that the most vulnerable communities — Black, Latino and Native Americans and low-income workers — have the support they need to survive this pandemic and thrive in its wake?
We should be grateful that we live in a country in which our leaders at the highest levels of government can receive the best care in times of crisis. And we should do all we can as a nation to ensure that every person in this country has the support they need, whether they live on Pennsylvania Avenue or Main Street, USA.
Dr. Richard E. Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter: @DrRichBesser


usatoday--2020-10-04--Your questions about Trump and COVID-19, answered: Who gave Trump coronavirus? What is the Regeneron

President Donald Trump was at the hospital Saturday after announcing that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 .
Trump flew to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland , on Marine One on Friday evening after experiencing fever and fatigue .
Officials said they expected him to be there for a few days .
The diagnosis raises many questions about how long the president has been infected , who else may have been exposed , how the diagnosis will impact the impending election and what happens next .
What do you want to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Submit your questions via this form and we will continue to answer your questions here .
Do we know how long Trump has had COVID-19 ?
Does he have symptoms ?
White House physician Sean Conley said in a press briefing Saturday morning that Trump was `` 72 hours into the diagnosis now . ''
But Conley later issued a statement saying that he meant `` day three . ''
Trump experienced a mild cough , nasal congestion and fatigue from COVID-19 on Thursday , but his symptoms were improving Saturday and doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in the breing .
`` Thursday afternoon , following the news of a close contact is when we repeated testing , and given kind of clinical indications I had a little bit more concern , and that ’ s when – late that night – we got the PCR confirmation that he was , '' Conley said , referring to a molecular diagnostic test .
Doctors said Saturday the president had been fever free for over 24 hours , had received an antibody therapy 48 hours ago and was on a five-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first lady Melania have symptoms ?
The first lady was `` doing great '' and `` has no indication for hospitalization , advanced therapy , '' Conley said Saturday morning .
Melania Trump did not go to the hospital with her husband , her chief of staff , Stephanie Grisham , confirmed to USA TODAY .
`` She ’ s still at the White House , she ’ s doing well , '' Grisham said in an email Friday .
It 's unclear when Trump was exposed to the coronavirus and where , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time his aide , Hope Hicks , was also exposed .
It was announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was symptomatic on Thursday .
She appears to have been diagnosed Wednesday evening when she flew with the president to Minnesota .
See the timeline of Trump 's travels leading up to his positive COVID-19 test .
Several people in Trump 's orbit have also tested positive .
Tests have come back positive for Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , Utah Sen. Mike Lee , North Carolina Sen. Thom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three White House reporters , one White House staffer , former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway , and Bill Stepien , Trump ’ s campaign manager .
Tests have come back negative from Vice President Mike Pence and his wife , Karen ; Ivanka Trump and her husband , Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner ; Barron Trump , the 14-year-old son of the president and first lady ; Eric Trump , Trump 's third child and an executive of the Trump Organization ; and Lara Trump , Trump 's daughter-in-law , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 updates , listen to the latest 5 Things podcast What is the mysterious Regeneron 'cocktail ' ?
White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo Friday afternoon that the president received a single 8-gram dose of Regeneron 's polyclonal antibody cocktail as a precautionary measure .
The antibody cocktail is being studied in four late-stage clinical trials and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority , the company said on its page .
The president also has been taking zinc , vitamin D , famotidine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conley said .
Conley said the first lady was experiencing only a `` mild cough and headache . ''
In an 18-second video posted to Twitter Friday evening , Trump addressed the nation and said he was `` doing very well . ''
`` I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support .
I ’ m going to Walter Reed Hospital .
I think I 'm doing very well , but we ’ re going to make sure that things work out .
The first lady is doing very well , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will never forget it .
Thank you . ''
Live updates on Trump and COVID-19 : Doctor to give update on Trump 's health ; many infected at White House gathering Conley said Friday that Trump was undergoing therapy with the drug remdesivir , which has been authorized for COVID-19 patients by the Food and Drug Administration under an emergency use declaration .
Trials showed effectiveness under some circumstances .
`` He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably , '' Conley wrote of Trump in the update released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been less controversial than hydroxychloroquine , a drug that Trump has repeatedly touted as a treatment for COVID-19 despite warnings about its effectiveness .
Remdesivir received a guarded endorsement from Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health , when it was announced as a new tool in the fight against the virus at the president 's press conference on April 29 .
Trump 's condition was 'very concerning ' over past day , source says , as White House says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the woods ' : Biden 's negative test does n't mean he ca n't be positive in coming days 'The likely outcome ' : Trump 's COVID diagnosis followed waning precautions at the White House Running list : Who close to the White House is being tested and their results How secure is the president 's suite at Walter Reed ?
How is it adapted to COVID ?
Conley said in a memo Friday morning that the president and first lady planned to `` remain at home within the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he and his team would `` maintain a vigilant watch . ''
But hours later , Trump was going to the hospital in what aides said was a precautionary move .
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the nation 's premier health care center for troops and senior government officials .
It 's Ward 71 consists of six patient rooms , one of which is in the Presidential Suite .
The suite is intended for use by General officers and cabinet level government officials .
Asked Saturday morning how the suite has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conely said that `` it 's the same as any hospital . ''
`` We have an area that ’ s clean that you put your equipment on , and then beyond that everyone is fully gowned up , masks , gloves , for protecting ourselves and him , '' he said .
First lady Melania Trump was treated at Walter Reed for a kidney condition in 2018 .
The president made an unexpected visit to the hospital in November 2019 .
The president 's annual physical usually is announced in advance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not in this case .
Who administered the test and when can we see the official test results ?
Conley confirmed the positive test result in a memo released by the White House shortly after the president 's tweet .
Conley said both were `` well at this time . ''
Conley has served as Trump 's physician since 2018 .
He came into the spotlight in May when he approved of the president taking hydroxychloroquine .
At the time , Conley said `` the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than one type of test , as there can be false positives ?
It was not immediately clear how many tests were administered , or what kinds of tests .
`` I 'm not going to get into exactly what type of test , '' Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday afternoon in a brief interaction with reporters .
Diagnostic tests are not fault-proof .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , for example , tested positive for COVID-19 in August using a rapid test , but two molecular tests taken later that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How often has Trump been tested ?
Asked this same question at the Saturday press briefing , Conley said , `` I 'm not going to get into all the testing going back , but he and all the staff routinely are tested . ''
During a May press briefing , Trump said he had been receiving `` on average a test every two days , three days . ''
Earlier that same day , McEneny said Trump was tested `` multiple times a day . ''
In addition , people coming into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House are supposed to be tested .
That includes his aides , staffers and military and the Secret Service agents who protect him .
But experts say Trump and his administration could have done more : Mandate masks at the White House , hold fewer large gatherings and use technology to allow staff to meet remotely .
Several White House aides have tested positive in the past , including a top spokeswoman to Vice President Mike Pence and a Navy valet who was in the same room as the president on the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , Congress does not have a standardized COVID-19 testing program .
How soon into the disease progression do you know if you 're going to have a severe or mild case ?
Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But about 40 % of people who are exposed to COVID-19 do n't have any symptoms at all .
In some cases , older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may take longer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the CDC .
Among patients who developed severe disease , it is about five to eight days from the onset of illness or symptoms to difficulty breathing , according to the CDC .
The median time to acute respiratory distress syndrome ranges from eight to 12 days , and the median time to ICU admission ranges from 10 to 12 days .
Some patients have rapidly deteriorated one week after illness onset , the CDC said .
`` The first week of COVID – and in particular days 7 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determining the likely course of his illness , '' Conley said Saturday .
What is the minimum amount of days that Trump is obligated to quarantine ?
The president is in isolation , not quarantine .
`` Isolation '' separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick .
`` Quarantine '' separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick .
The CDC recommends that people who have had COVID-19 can be around other people again if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been 10 days since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications , and other symptoms are improving .
'Falling off the cliff ’ : Experts say Trump ’ s quick move to hospital could be sign of serious COVID illness Will this impact Trump 's shot at reelection ?
Trump is expected to have to remain in quarantine until he is no longer contagious , which could take him off the campaign between now and Election Day in 32 days .
Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , and the revelation of his positive result raised questions about his ability to hold rallies , fundraisers and participate in presidential debates scheduled later this month .
The president has tried to keep voters ' attention away from the COVID-19 pandemic , which has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S .
Polls consistently show voters think Biden is better equipped to handle the outbreak .
The looming fight over the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court offered a perfect opportunity for Trump to fire up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had nothing to do with the virus and its economic fallout .
But Trump 's test result is likely to rob him of the ability to focus the nation 's attention on that fight .
How concerned should we be for Joe Biden ’ s health considering he just spent 90 minutes on a stage debating the president ?
Former Vice President Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID-19 , but that does n't mean he 's in the clear .
A negative test only means someone is n't shedding much virus at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything about what may be brewing in the person 's body .
Trump presumably tested negative on Tuesday , the day of his debate with Biden , which reduces the chance the president passed the virus on to his political opponent .
But even if he tested negative in the morning , it 's still possible he was contagious by the time of the evening debate .
The virus comes on quickly , and is most infectious during the day or two before symptoms appear , and a day or two after someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most people do n't test positive in the first day or two after exposure .
Both men did not wear masks during the 90-minute televised event , often shouting or speaking in loud voices , which is known to spread more viral particles .
What happens if Trump ca n't perform his duties ?
Presidential succession is spelled out in the Constitution .
Under the 25th Amendment , the president could notify House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and the Senate majority 's senior member , Sen. Charles Grassley , R-Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , transferring power to Vice President Mike Pence until the president indicates that he is able to return .
The provision has only been invoked three times since the amendment 's ratification in 1967 , creating a legal mechanism for designating a head of state when the president is disabled .
It was used briefly when Ronald Reagan underwent surgery in 1985 and similarly when George W. Bush was under anesthesia in 2002 and 2007 .
Could the Supreme Court nomination announcement have been a spreader event ?
*** Answer was updated on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. EDT President Donald Trump and his adviser Hope Hicks have been in close contact with dozens – if not hundreds – of other people while potentially infectious with COVID-19 , a USA TODAY analysis shows .
So far , at more than a dozen other people who have come in contact with Trump in recent days have tested positive for COVID-19 , including several who attended at a White House event at which Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for Supreme Court .
Judge Barrett tested negative for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barrett had tested positive for COVID this summer and has since recovered .
Those in Trump 's orbit who have tested positive include first lady Melania Trump , Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah , and the Rev .
John Jenkins , the president of Notre Dame University .
Campaign manager Bill Stepien , former White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway , GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina , the Rev .
John Jenkins , the president of Notre Dame University , former New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House reporter also have tested positive .
Videos and photos of the Rose Garden event , which was held outside , show more than 180 people in attendance , with only about 50 wearing masks and few practicing social distancing .
On Thursday , Trump traveled to New Jersey for campaign events .
The events in New Jersey were closed to the press , but GOP fundraiser John Sette attended the events and estimated about 300 people attended .
New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy issued a statement Friday morning saying that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who attended Trump 's events in Bedminster to take full precautions , including self-quarantining and getting tested .

Your questions about Trump and COVID-19, answered: Who gave Trump coronavirus? What is the Regeneron antibody 'cocktail'?
Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis: You asked, we answered USA TODAY breaking news reporter Grace Hauck answers some of your biggest questions after President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19. USA TODAY
President Donald Trump was at the hospital Sunday after announcing he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.
Trump flew to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Marine One on Friday evening after experiencing fever and fatigue. Officials said they expected him to be there for a few days.
The diagnosis raises many questions about how long the president has been infected, who else may have been exposed, how the diagnosis will influence the election and what happens next.
What do you want to know about Trump's positive coronavirus test? Submit your questions via this form and we will continue to answer your questions here.
At what point is Trump considered not contagious?
- From Twitter
While the duration of infectiousness for COVID-19 has yet to be confirmed, scientists believe that people with mild to moderate COVID-19 may shed the virus for up to 10 days after symptoms first appear, according to the CDC.
It’s still unclear what day the president first began experiencing symptoms as mixed messaging from the White House continues to muddle the timeline. Trump first announced his diagnosis on Twitter early Friday morning but made no mention of symptoms.
It wasn’t until later that morning when White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters the president was experiencing “mild symptoms.” On Saturday, White House physician Sean Conley disclosed on the record for the first time that the president had a fever.
Why isn't Mike Pence in quarantine after being exposed?
- From Twitter
According to CDC guidelines, a person who has come in close contact with an individual who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days regardless of a positive or negative test result.
Vice President Mike Pence is suspected to have been in close contact with the president while he was infectious. The vice president tested negative for COVID-19 three times since Trump's diagnosis and has made multiple public appearances while the President recovers in the hospital.
Experts wonder why someone in Pence's situation is not under isolation to reduce both his risk of exposure and the vulnerability of the Trump White House, as per CDC guidelines.
“We have the president and first lady ill and the country is in a vulnerable situation,” former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told USA TODAY on Friday. “We have to be very prepared to deal with the possibility that an adversary will seek to take advantage.”
The White House and national security agencies must move quickly to ensure the chain of command is secure and the military is prepared to respond without delay to provocation or attack, said Panetta, who also served as Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton.
Do we know how long Trump has had COVID-19? Does he have symptoms?
– Spencer from Cedar City, Utah
White House physician Sean Conley said in a press briefing Saturday morning that Trump was "72 hours into the diagnosis now." But Conley later issued a statement saying that he meant "day three."
Trump experienced a mild cough, nasal congestion and fatigue from COVID-19 on Thursday, but his symptoms were improving Saturday and doctors were "cautiously optimistic," Conley said in the breing.
"Thursday afternoon, following the news of a close contact is when we repeated testing, and given kind of clinical indications I had a little bit more concern, and that’s when – late that night – we got the PCR confirmation that he was," Conley said, referring to a molecular diagnostic test.
Doctors said Saturday the president had been fever free for over 24 hours, had received an antibody therapy 48 hours ago and was on a five-day course of the drug remdesivir.
Where Trump traveled the week before testing positive for COVID-19 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Here's a look at where he traveled the week before his diagnosis. USA TODAY
Does first lady Melania have symptoms?
– L from Las Vegas
The first lady was "doing great" and "has no indication for hospitalization, advanced therapy," Conley said Saturday morning.
Melania Trump did not go to the hospital with her husband, her chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, confirmed to USA TODAY.
"She’s still at the White House, she’s doing well," Grisham said in an email Friday.
Who gave Trump COVID-19?
– McCalister from Shereveport, Louisiana
It's unclear when Trump was exposed to the coronavirus and where, but he was likely exposed around the same time his aide, Hope Hicks, was also exposed. It was announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was symptomatic on Thursday. She appears to have been diagnosed Wednesday evening when she flew with the president to Minnesota.
See the timeline of Trump's travels leading up to his positive COVID-19 test.
Several people in Trump's orbit have also tested positive. Tests have come back positive for Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, three White House reporters, one White House staffer, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, and Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager.
Tests have come back negative from Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen; Ivanka Trump and her husband, Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner; Barron Trump, the 14-year-old son of the president and first lady; Eric Trump, Trump's third child and an executive of the Trump Organization; and Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law, according to their spokespeople.
For more Trump COVID-19 updates, listen to the latest 5 Things podcast
What is the mysterious Regeneron 'cocktail'?
– Jackie from Green Bay, Wisconsin
White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo Friday afternoon that the president received a single 8-gram dose of Regeneron's polyclonal antibody cocktail as a precautionary measure. The antibody cocktail is being studied in four late-stage clinical trials and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority, the company said on its page.
The president also has been taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin, Conley said.
Conley said the first lady was experiencing only a "mild cough and headache."
In an 18-second video posted to Twitter Friday evening, Trump addressed the nation and said he was "doing very well."
"I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I’m going to Walter Reed Hospital. I think I'm doing very well, but we’re going to make sure that things work out. The first lady is doing very well," he said. "I appreciate it. I will never forget it. Thank you."
Live updates on Trump and COVID-19: Doctor to give update on Trump's health; many infected at White House gathering
Is Trump taking hydroxychloroquine?Remdesivir?
– Don from Pioneer, California
Conley said Friday that Trump was undergoing therapy with the drug remdesivir, which has been authorized for COVID-19 patients by the Food and Drug Administration under an emergency use declaration. Trials showed effectiveness under some circumstances.
"He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably," Conley wrote of Trump in the update released through the White House.
Remdesivir has been less controversial than hydroxychloroquine, a drug that Trump has repeatedly touted as a treatment for COVID-19 despite warnings about its effectiveness.
Remdesivir received a guarded endorsement from Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, when it was announced as a new tool in the fight against the virus at the president's press conference on April 29.
More reading on President Trump's diagnosis
Trump's condition was 'very concerning' over past day, source says, as White House says president is doing 'very well'
'Not completely out of the woods': Biden's negative test doesn't mean he can't be positive in coming days
'The likely outcome': Trump's COVID diagnosis followed waning precautions at the White House
Running list: Who close to the White House is being tested and their results
How secure is the president's suite at Walter Reed? How is it adapted to COVID?
– Rick of Austin, Texas
Conley said in a memo Friday morning that the president and first lady planned to "remain at home within the White House during their convalescence," writing that he and his team would "maintain a vigilant watch." But hours later, Trump was going to the hospital in what aides said was a precautionary move.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the nation's premier health care center for troops and senior government officials. It's Ward 71 consists of six patient rooms, one of which is in the Presidential Suite. The suite is intended for use by high-level officers and Cabinet-level government officials.
Asked Saturday morning how the suite has been outfitted amid the coronavirus pandemic, Conely said that "it's the same as any hospital."
"We have an area that’s clean that you put your equipment on, and then beyond that everyone is fully gowned up, masks, gloves, for protecting ourselves and him," he said.
Melania Trump was treated at Walter Reed for a kidney condition in 2018. The president made an unexpected visit to the hospital in November 2019. The president's annual physical usually is announced in advance to avoid speculation about his health but was not in that case.
Trump heads to Walter Reed: The hospital for presidents, war heroes, Supreme Court justices
Who administered the test and when can we see the official test results?
– Elsie of Salina, Kansas
Conley confirmed the positive test result in a memo released by the White House shortly after the president's tweet. Conley said both were "well at this time."
Conley has been Trump's physician since 2018. He came into the spotlight in May when he approved of the president taking hydroxychloroquine. At the time, Conley said "the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks."
Was Trump tested with more than one type of test, as there can be false positives?
– April from Cleveland, Ohio
It was not immediately clear how many tests were administered, or what kinds of tests.
"I'm not going to get into exactly what type of test," Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday afternoon in a brief interaction with reporters.
Diagnostic tests are not fault-proof. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, for example, tested positive for COVID-19 in August using a rapid test, but two molecular tests taken later that day ultimately found DeWine was negative.
How often has Trump been tested?
– M from Buffalo, New York
Asked this same question at the press briefing Saturday, Conley said, "I'm not going to get into all the testing going back, but he and all the staff routinely are tested."
During a press briefing in May, Trump said he had been receiving "on average a test every two days, three days."
Earlier that same day, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who announced Monday that she also had tested positive for the coronavirus, said Trump was tested "multiple times a day."
In addition, people coming into contact with the president at the White House are supposed to be tested. That includes his aides, staffers and military and the Secret Service agents who protect him.
But experts say Trump and his administration could have done more: Mandate masks at the White House, hold fewer large gatherings and use technology to allow staff to meet remotely.
Several White House aides have tested positive in the past, including a top spokeswoman to Vice President Mike Pence and a Navy valet who was in the same room as the president on the day the person began experiencing symptoms.
Unlike the White House, Congress does not have a standardized COVID-19 testing program.
President Donald Trump, first lady test positive for coronavirus President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 and "will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately." USA TODAY
How soon into the disease progression do you know if you're going to have a severe or mild case?
– Peggy from Scottsdale, AZ
Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But about 40% of people who are exposed to COVID-19 don't have any symptoms at all.
In some cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may take longer than others to develop fever and other symptoms, according to the CDC.
Among patients who developed severe disease, it is about five to eight days from the onset of illness or symptoms to difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. The median time to acute respiratory distress syndrome ranges from eight to 12 days, and the median time to ICU admission ranges from 10 to 12 days.
Some patients have rapidly deteriorated one week after illness onset, the CDC said.
"The first week of COVID – and in particular days 7 to 10 – are the most critical in determining the likely course of his illness," Conley said Saturday.
What is the minimum amount of days Trump is obligated to quarantine?
– Tim of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The president is in isolation, not quarantine. "Isolation" separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. "Quarantine" separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
The CDC recommends that people who have had COVID-19 can be around other people again if they meet three criteria: It has been 10 days since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and other symptoms are improving.
'Falling off the cliff’: Experts say Trump’s quick move to hospital could be sign of serious COVID illness
Will his illness affect Trump's shot at reelection?
– Anna of Washington, D.C.
Trump is expected to have to remain in quarantine until he is no longer contagious, which could take him off the campaign between now and Election Day in 32 days.
Trump had already canceled a rally in Florida on Friday, and the revelation of his positive result raised questions about his ability to hold rallies, fundraisers and participate in presidential debates scheduled this month.
The president has tried to keep voters' attention away from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S. Polls consistently show voters believe Biden is better-equipped to handle the outbreak.
The looming fight over the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court offered a perfect opportunity for Trump to fire up his supporters and donors over something that had nothing to do with the virus and its economic fallout. But Trump's test result is likely to rob him of the ability to focus the nation's attention on that fight.
How concerned should we be for Joe Biden’s health considering he just spent 90 minutes on a stage debating the president?
– Laura from Yardley, Pennsylvania
Former Vice President Joe Biden has tested negative for COVID-19, but that doesn't mean he's in the clear. A negative test only means someone isn't shedding much virus at that moment. It doesn't say anything about what may be brewing in the person's body.
Trump presumably tested negative on Tuesday, the day of his debate with Biden, which reduces the chance the president passed the virus on to his political opponent. But even if he tested negative in the morning, it's still possible he was contagious by the time of the evening debate.
The virus comes on quickly, and is most infectious during the day or two before symptoms appear, and a day or two after someone feels sick, if they ever do. Most people don't test positive in the first day or two after exposure.
Both men did not wear masks during the 90-minute televised event, often shouting or speaking in loud voices, which is known to spread more viral particles.
What happens if Trump can't perform his duties?
– Sam of Rochester Hills, Michigan
Presidential succession is spelled out in the Constitution.
Under the 25th Amendment, the president could notify House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Senate majority's senior member, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, that he is unable to function, transferring power to the vice president until the president indicates he is able to return.
The provision has been invoked only three times since the amendment's ratification in 1967, creating a legal mechanism for designating a head of state when the president is disabled. It was used briefly when Ronald Reagan had surgery in 1985 and similarly when George W. Bush was under anesthesia in 2002 and 2007.
Could the Supreme Court nomination announcement have been a spreader event?
– Sydney from Philadelphia
*** Answer was updated on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 8:15 a.m. EDT
President Donald Trump and his adviser Hope Hicks have been in close contact with dozens – if not hundreds – of other people while potentially infectious with COVID-19, a USA TODAY analysis shows.
So far, at more than a dozen other people who have come in contact with Trump in recent days have tested positive for COVID-19, including several who attended at a White House event at which Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee for Supreme Court.
Judge Barrett tested negative for COVID-19, according to White House spokesperson Judd Deere. Barrett had tested positive for COVID this summer and has since recovered.
Those in Trump's orbit who have tested positive include first lady Melania Trump, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, and the Rev. John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame University. Campaign manager Bill Stepien, former White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the Rev. John Jenkins, the president of Notre Dame University, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and a White House reporter also have tested positive.
Videos and photos of the Rose Garden event, which was held outside, show more than 180 people in attendance, with only about 50 wearing masks and few practicing social distancing.
On Thursday, Trump traveled to New Jersey for campaign events. The events in New Jersey were closed to the press, but GOP fundraiser John Sette attended the events and estimated about 300 people attended.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement Friday morning saying that the contact-tracing process is underway and urging anyone who attended Trump's events in Bedminster to take full precautions, including self-quarantining and getting tested.
Contributing: Chris Woodyard, Nicholas Wu, Sean Rossman, John Fritze, Elizabeth Weise and Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-04--President Trump sends video update after a day of conflicting reports about his health

President Trump sends video update after a day of conflicting reports about his health President Trump shared a health update @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center after a day of conflicting reports about his status .

Pres. Trump shares update after day of conflicting health reports
President Trump shared a health update from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a day of conflicting reports about his status.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-05--Jimmy Butler posts 40-point triple-double, Heat top Lakers in Game 3 of NBA Finals

LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra kept saying his team had another level it could reach even without injured center Bam Adebayo and guard Goran Dragic .
No one outside of the Heat organization believed that , but Spoelstra already made it clear how he feels about what anyone else thinks .
Well , the Heat found that level and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-104 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday for their first victory in the series .
Miami All-Star Jimmy Butler didn ’ t want to hear from any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-man effort , but he was sensational with 40 points , 13 assists , 11 rebounds and an indefatigable effort defensively with two steals and two blocks .
Butler scored eight consecutive points late in the fourth quarter , helping Miami pull away .
His eight-foot jumper with 1:13 to go put Miami ahead 109-100 .
And with that , the Heat added some intrigue to a series that was one-sided through two games and headed toward a sweep .
Butler , who had 21 points in the second half , joins LeBron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players to have a 40-point triple-double in the Finals .
`` All these experiences prepare you for this , and this is still an incredible opportunity in front of us , '' Spoelstra said before Game 3 .
`` Our guys are very mentally tough , they love competition .
That does n't change anything in terms of our wanting to compete , wanting to take on the challenge , wanting to play better than we did in the first two games and figure out a way to get over the hump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if you 're a competitor you absolutely love it . ''
Game 4 is Tuesday ( 9 p.m .
ET , ABC ) , and while there is no timetable for Adebayo ’ s return , he worked out on the court before Sunday ’ s game , indicating he is closer to returning .
Miami led for most of the game and owned a 68-54 lead with 7:54 left in the third quarter — the Lakers ’ largest deficit of the Finals .
The Lakers trailed 99-95 with 5:41 remaining in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lakers had .
The Heat played with much better focus and determination , especially defensively .
Miami ’ s Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk each had 19 points .
Sloppy basketball afflicted the Lakers from the opening tip .
They committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter , including nine in their first 16 possessions .
Lakers stars James and Anthony Davis each had four turnovers .
Davis , who 15 points on just nine shots , struggled for the first time since the Western Conference semifinals .
He had zero points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first quarter and was reduced to the bench with foul trouble .
James had 25 points , 10 rebounds and eight assists .
Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris each had 19 points and were a combined 9-for-19 on 3-pointers and compensated for a lackluster effort from Los Angeles ’ starters , minus James .
James climbed higher on playoff record lists .
Already the NBA ’ s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs , he passed John Stockton for No .
2 on the all-time playoff assists list and moved ahead of Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-time Finals blocked shots list .

Jimmy Butler posts 40-point triple-double, Heat top Lakers in Game 3 of NBA Finals
Show Caption Hide Caption Erik Spoelstra sums up Heat's Game 3 win: 'Jimmy F-in Butler' SportsPulse: To the surprise of many, the Miami Heat will not be swept by the Los Angeles Lakers and that's in large part because of the massive effort by Jimmy Butler in Game 3 who finished with a triple-double. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra kept saying his team had another level it could reach even without injured center Bam Adebayo and guard Goran Dragic.
No one outside of the Heat organization believed that, but Spoelstra already made it clear how he feels about what anyone else thinks.
Well, the Heat found that level and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-104 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday for their first victory in the series.
Miami All-Star Jimmy Butler didn’t want to hear from any naysayers either. It was not a one-man effort, but he was sensational with 40 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds and an indefatigable effort defensively with two steals and two blocks.
40-point triple-double x Game 3 W! 🔥@JimmyButler's 40 PTS, 11 REB, 13 AST push the @MiamiHEAT to the Game 3 win! #NBAFinals #Drop40
Game 4: Tuesday - 9pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/TjT7VS3h2T — NBA (@NBA) October 5, 2020
Butler scored eight consecutive points late in the fourth quarter, helping Miami pull away. His eight-foot jumper with 1:13 to go put Miami ahead 109-100.
And with that, the Heat added some intrigue to a series that was one-sided through two games and headed toward a sweep.
BIG TALK: Butler backs it up with Finals performance for the ages
FRUSTRATION: LeBron explains walking off court in closing seconds
STAY CALM: LeBron, AD won't overreact to Lakers' loss in Game 3
"Guys really want to do this for each other," Spoelstra said. "Our hearts are broken about Goran and Bam missing these games because there's sincere love for them. Jimmy takes that to heart. Guys know that they have to do more until or if those guys come back.
"But this is what competition's all about. You have to raise your game and like I said many times, you just can't put an analytic or a number or an evaluation to Jimmy Butler in the conventional way. He is an elite, top-percentile competitor, and this is top-percentile competition that we're facing and it's bringing out a different level."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on the incredible performance of "Jimmy F'ing Butler" in Game 3 of the #NBAFinals. pic.twitter.com/JTuRoXWjLn — USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 5, 2020
Butler, who had 21 points in the second half, joins LeBron James and Jerry West as the only players to have a 40-point triple-double in the Finals.
"We definitely have to do a better job on Jimmy," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "What did he have, 40 and 13? Identifying the right situations to help, the right situations not to help. We didn't do a good job in those situations, but obviously we'll look at the tape and see ways we can be better."
Game 4 is Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, ABC), and while there is no timetable for Adebayo’s return, he worked out on the court before Sunday’s game, indicating he is closer to returning.
Miami led for most of the game and owned a 68-54 lead with 7:54 left in the third quarter — the Lakers’ largest deficit of the Finals. The Lakers trailed 99-95 with 5:41 remaining in the fourth, and Miami withstood everything the Lakers had.
"We've had great respect for this team from the start," Vogel said. "That didn't change after Game 1 and that didn't change after Game 2. Even with guys out, we still have great respect and we saw that in Game 2, what they are capable of from an offensive firepower standpoint and defensive competitiveness standpoint. So they are going to be a great opponent with those guys or without them."
The Heat played with much better focus and determination, especially defensively. Miami’s Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk each had 19 points.
Sloppy basketball afflicted the Lakers from the opening tip. They committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter, including nine in their first 16 possessions. Lakers stars James and Anthony Davis each had four turnovers.
"We know that we can't turn the ball over versus this team," James said. "They are very active defensively. It starts with myself, being the starting point guard of the team, having five first-half turnovers, eight total for the game. Can't do that, obviously, because it gives them more possessions and doesn't allow us to set our defense. They are really, really good offensively, so you just can't turn the ball over against that team. I take full responsibility for that."
Are the Lakers concerned after dropping Game 3 of the #NBAFinals? Hardly.
"We know we can play a lot better," LeBron James said. "We have another opportunity to take a commanding lead on Tuesday. So, we relish that opportunity." pic.twitter.com/iB0ZL00hIc — USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 5, 2020
Davis, who 15 points on just nine shots, struggled for the first time since the Western Conference semifinals. He had zero points and zero field goal attempts in the first quarter and was reduced to the bench with foul trouble.
James had 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris each had 19 points and were a combined 9-for-19 on 3-pointers and compensated for a lackluster effort from Los Angeles’ starters, minus James.
James climbed higher on playoff record lists. Already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs, he passed John Stockton for No. 2 on the all-time playoff assists list and moved ahead of Kevin McHale for No. 6 on the all-time Finals blocked shots list.
"I don't ever feel like we let our guard down," James said. "Also, I don't feel like we're concerned. We're not concerned. We know we can play a lot better. We have another opportunity to take a commanding lead on Tuesday. You relish that opportunity."
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.