Having contracted the coronavirus, President Donald Trump remains in a "dangerous position," according to a medical expert.
The coronavirus has hit Trump in the middle of the campaign season. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said the president appears to be in a more severe category.
“It is a little bit confusing, but by and large, the president looks pretty good,” he said during an interview on CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia.” “So far so good, and we have high hopes for his complete and rapid recovery.”
“But that said, he’s still in a dangerous position. He is 74 years old, he is overweight, he is male. All of those things put him in a more severe category potentially,” he noted.
The doctor stressed that Trump must not be discharged from the hospital because Covid-19 can be “very stealthy” and infected patients can “suddenly crash."
Trump confirmed his Covid-19 test result in a Tweet on Friday: “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
White House physician Sean Conley reported that Trump and his wife were “both well” at the moment.
“The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions,” Conley said.
The doctor mentioned that Trump will “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
The president was taken to Walter Reed Military Medical Center “as a precautionary measure,” according to a senior administration official.
“President Trump remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day,” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement to the press at the White House.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady,” McEnany stressed.
Stay in the hospital
For Schaffner, Trump should not leave the hospital for a few more days “under the 24-hour-a-day, watchful attention of the staff.”
“We know this infection can be very stealthy and … kind of fake you out, because you can do well for several days and then suddenly crash,” he stressed.
If he returns to the White House and an emergency happens and they need to bring him back to Walter Reed, it would not be good for the president, he said. “That would not be a good idea. Let’s be conservative and take it a day at a time," he added.
“The virus builds up in your body before it starts to make you ill, so he could have been infected for quite some days … and then become infectious let’s say Tuesday, maybe even Monday of last week,” Schaffner said. “Potentially, the number of people who contacted him without precautions, without 6-foot distancing, could be very large indeed.”
