The New York Times: Trump’s COVID-19 journey was worse than previously reported

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Former President Donald Trump’s condition with his COVID-19 diagnosis was more severe than the previous reports, according to the New York Times.
• At one point, Trump needed to be on a ventilator because of his low blood oxygen levels.
• The then-president’s doctor Sean Conley repeatedly downplayed his health condition during press briefings at the time.

The New York Times released an exclusive report on Thursday, saying that former President Donald Trump’s condition when he contracted COVID-19 last October was more serious than the previous reports.

During his hospitalization, Trump’s blood oxygen levels had remarkably dipped as authorities noted that a ventilator was needed. The then-president was aiming to have lung infiltrates at the time.

On October 2, Trump was reportedly having difficulty breathing with fever as he was brought to the hospital. Two days before he announced his COVID-19 diagnosis, the former president had attended the first presidential debate. It was still not known whether he was able to infect people within his circle.

Trump’s doctor Sean Conley has repeatedly played down the president’s situation during press briefings. He said that the results were already anticipated, but “nothing of any major clinical concern” during his stay at the Walter Reed Hospital.

Speaking with the reporters then, Conley said that Trump’s blood oxygen levels had gone to around 93 percent but did go as low as 80 percent. Sources familiar with the president’s clinical assessment, though, told the Times that his oxygen went down to as low as the 80s.

To be fair, Conley did not further elaborate on what “the low 80s” meant. It was still not known whether his remarks were in contrast with the Times‘ revelation.

Trump was also injected with the Regeneron antibody cocktail, a drug which was not given clearance by the Food and Drug Administration, on the night of October 1. When Trump got out of the hospital, he repeatedly boasted its efficacy given his quick recovery.

Health experts and officials, however, reportedly poked fun at the fact that the Regeneron drug sought to slow the symptoms from becoming more severe, which would yield hospital confinement.

The Hill has already reached out to Trump’s office for a comment request on the matter.

Source: The Hill