WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on Twitter that he'll be leaving the hospital on Monday (Oct 5) evening, adding that he was “feeling really good” after being treated there for Covid-19 over the weekend.
Mr Trump, whose Covid-19 diagnosis was announced early Friday morning, was hospitalised on Friday evening at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre outside Washington DC.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We've developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” said the President on Twitter on Monday.
His apparent downplaying of the pandemic, which has infected over 7.6 million Americans and killed more than 210,000, drew alarm from medical experts.
Since testing positive, Mr Trump had experienced two episodes of a drop in oxygen, one on Friday morning before he went to the hospital and again on Saturday, his doctors told newsmen at a press briefing on Sunday.
A press briefing has been scheduled for Monday afternoon.
On Twitter, Mr Trump also responded against criticism following his unscheduled driveby on Sunday evening, when he left the hospital in an armoured car to wave to his supporters waiting outside the hospital.
Medical experts had said that Mr Trump had put the driver and the Secret Service agent accompanying him in danger of contracting the virus from him, as the vehicle interior was a small airtight space.
“It's reported that the Media is upset because I got into a secure vehicle to say thank you to the several fans and supporters who were standing outside of the hospital for several hours, and even days, to pay their respect to their President,” said Mr Trump on Twitter. “If I didn’t do it, Media would say RUDE!!!”
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We've developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020