Donald Trump is 'doing very well' in hospital with coronavirus, his physician says

3 October 2020, 16:44 | Updated: 3 October 2020, 18:03

Donald Trump is "doing very well" and not on oxygen as he battles coronavirus in hospital, his physician has said.

Dr Sean Conley said in a televised briefing on Saturday afternoon: "At this time the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the President has made, first he had a mild cough, some naval congestion and fatigue, all of which are now resolving and improving."

The US President was airlifted to Walter Reed medical centre direct from the White House late on Friday, hours after his Covid-19 diagnosis was confirmed. First Lady Melania Trump is also doing well, officials said.

Dr Conley said his admission to hospital was "a precautionary measure to provide state of the art monitoring and any care that he may need".

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Mr Trump is not currently on oxygen or having difficulty breathing, the top doctor said, but would not answer whether he has previously been since his admission.

"All indications are that he will remain off of oxygen going forward," Dr Conley said, adding Mr Trump told medics "I could walk out of here today".

But he had a cough and a fever and "more than anything he has felt run down".

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There had been fears of Mr Trump's vulnerability to the virus given he is 74-years-old and clinically obese.

Dr Conley told reporters: "As reported yesterday consultation with this group. I recommended we bring the president up to Walter Reed, as a precautionary measure to provide, state of the art monitoring and any care that he may need.

"We are just 72 hours into the diagnosis. Now, the first week of COVID, and a particular day seven to 10 of the most critical in determining the likely course of this illness.

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"At this time the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the President has made Thursday, he had a mild cough and some nasal congestion and fatigue, all of which are now resolving and improving."

The top doctor would not be drawn by reporters on the source of Mr Trump's infection.

Some have blamed a "superspreader" crowded Rose Garden ceremony earlier this week where masks and social distancing were in short supply and some audience members hugged and shook hands. At least nine attendees of the event have since tested positive.