WA Sec. of Health: ‘Highly irresponsible’ for Trump to be downplaying COVID-19
Oct 5, 2020, 4:44 PM | Updated: Oct 6, 2020, 7:41 am
President Trump shortly after returning to the White House from Walter Reed Medical Center. (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Washington state leaders spoke out Monday, following a tweet from President Trump telling the nation not to fear COVID-19 as he recovers from the virus following a weekend stay at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Trump’s COVID treatments make his actual condition ‘very unclear’
The president reported he had tested positive for the virus last Thursday, before being transported to Walter Reed for further treatment. He was discharged Monday, and will continue to receive round-the-clock medical care from the White House.
In the meantime, there are concerns among Washington state leaders that the president downplaying the threat of the virus right now could cause long-term harm.
“The president’s reckless comments reflect exactly the same nonsense thinking behind his failed pandemic response that increased the risk of COVID, a virus that has caused 210,000 deaths in the United States already — and hundreds more each day,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written release. “He hasn’t learned a thing. Since he tested positive for COVID, more than 2,000 additional Americans have died and downplaying this danger is the best he can do?”
Echoing that sentiment was Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman, who voiced concerns that Trump’s statement could make people less likely to follow common sense public health guidelines.
Virologist: Trump ‘faces increased risk’ in wake of COVID diagnosis
“The president’s tweet is highly irresponsible and makes every public health official’s job that much more difficult,” Wiesman said Monday. “COVID-19 is a serious disease that is easily spread. We shouldn’t fear it; we should protect ourselves from it. Wear your mask. Watch your distance. Wash your hands. These are the basic facts.”
Trump is currently receiving three separate medications to treat his illness: remdesivir, dexamethasone, and an experimental antiviral cocktail. Remdesivir is commonly used for patients suffering through severe cases of COVID-19, while dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory steroid.
The president’s physician, Navy Cdr. Sean Conley, said Monday that Trump will be able to resume working normally once “there is no evidence of live virus still present,” while also cautioning that the aggressive early treatment he’s received is largely “uncharted territory.” In the meantime, Conley says he won’t be fully out of the woods for at least another week.
