The medical team treating Donald Trump, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus late last week, says the president was given the steroid dexamethasone because his blood oxygen levels dipped but “continued to improve” and could return to the White House as soon as Monday.
The medical team spoke to reporters on Sunday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Trump was admitted on Friday following the diagnosis, which came just more than a month before the presidential election on November 3.
“Since we spoke last, the president has continued to improve. As with any illness, there are frequent ups and downs over the course,” Trump’s physician Dr Sean Conley said.
Conley said Trump received supplemental oxygen at the White House when his blood oxygen level dipped before being taken to hospital.
Another member of the team, Dr Brian Garibaldi, said the 74-year-old was given the steroid dexamethasone on Saturday in response to “transient low oxygen levels”. The doctors said Trump’s blood oxygen levels were currently stable.
“He received his first dose of that yesterday and our plan is to continue that for the time being,” Garibaldi said, adding Trump was “up and around” and was feeling well.
“Our plan for today is to have him eat and drink, be up out of bed as much as possible, to be mobile,” Garibaldi said.
“And, if he continues to look and feel as well as he does today, our hope is that we can plan a discharge as early as tomorrow to the White House where he can continue his treatment course.”
Aljazeera
