Coronavirus Watch: What we know 3 days into Trump's diagnosis
After experiencing a mild cough, nasal congestion and fatigue from COVID-19 on Thursday, President Donald Trump's symptoms were improving Saturday and doctors were "cautiously optimistic," according to the team treating Trump at Walter Reed hospital.
"The first week of COVID – and in particular days 7 to 10 – are the most critical in determining the likely course of his illness," White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said. "At this time, the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made."
Doctors said the president had been fever free for over 24 hours, had received an antibody therapy and was on a five-day course of the drug remdesivir.
Conley repeatedly refused to say whether Trump had ever been on oxygen, instead offering several examples of when Trump was explicitly not on oxygen. Trump's medical team denied a report Friday that the president was having trouble breathing.
Meanwhile, the first lady was "doing great" and "has no indication for hospitalization, advanced therapy," Conley said. She remained at the White House.
This is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here is what we know, as of 12:30 p.m. ET:
- More than 10 people who were in close contact with Trump or White House officials have tested positive for COVID-19, including three Republican senators, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager.
- Six of those who tested positive attended a White House event last Saturday at which Trump announced his Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, who has since tested negative.
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she was "optimistic" about the chances of a deal on COVID-19 stimulus, arguing in a TV interview that Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis "changes the dynamic."
- The Senate Judiciary Committee said it has no plans to push back the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Coney Barrett.
- Future of debates uncertain: The next presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami and hosted by C-SPAN Political Editor Steve Scully. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said if Trump "feels up to it" the second debate should go forward perhaps remotely.
Who gave Trump coronavirus? What is the Regeneron antibody 'cocktail'? Have questions about Trump and COVID-19? Ask us here, and we'll answer here.
Today's numbers: Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin set records for new cases in a week, and record numbers of deaths were reported in North Dakota, a Paste BN analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Friday shows. The U.S. has reported more than 7.3 million cases and 208,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been more than 34.6 million cases and 1 million fatalities. See the numbers in your area here, and check out where cases are rising here.
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– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck