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Trump Covid: President downplays virus on leaving hospital

US President Donald Trump has made a theatrical return to the White House to continue his treatment for coronavirus after a three-night hospital stay.

Mr Trump, who is still contagious, removed his mask on the balcony of the White House, while posing for pictures.

His physician said he would continue treatment from there, and he "may not entirely be out of the woods yet".

Several of the Mr Trump's staff and aides have also tested positive for the virus in recent days.

Questions remain over the seriousness of Mr Trump's illness after a weekend of conflicting statements.

 

The US has had 7.4 million cases of Covid-19 and 210,000 deaths.

What happened during Trump's return?

Before his departure from hospital on Monday evening, the president told Americans in a tweet not to fear the disease: "Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life."

Mr Trump said: "I feel better than I did 20 years ago!!"

He also tweeted: "Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!"

Mr Trump's diagnosis has upended his campaign for a second term in office, less than a month before the Republican president faces Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the presidential election.

Wearing a navy business suit, tie and mask, Mr Trump walked out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Washington DC suburbs pumping his fist.

"Thank you very much everybody," he said, ignoring questions from the media, including one reporter who asked: "Are you a super spreader, Mr President?"

Following the short helicopter ride, Mr Trump was pictured alone on the Truman Balcony of the White House. He removed his protective face mask, before giving a thumbs-up and a military-style salute.

A couple of hours later, he tweeted a campaign-style clip of his return set to stirring music.

Mr Trump also recorded a video message to the American people, urging them to get back to work.

"You're going to beat it [coronavirus]," he told them. "We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines, all developed recently."

He added: "We're going to be out front. As your leader, I had to do that. I knew there's danger to it, but I had to do it. I stood out front, and led."

Mr Trump also speculated: "Now I'm better, maybe I'm immune, I don't know".

He also promised that vaccines were "coming momentarily", although the US Centers for Disease Control has said no vaccine is expected to be widely available before the middle of next year.

Following Mr Trump's return to the White House, his Democratic challenger Joe Biden said he was "glad" the president appeared to be "coming along pretty well".

But he then criticised Mr Trump, saying: "Anybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying masks don't matter, social distancing doesn't matter, I think is responsible for what happens to them."

According to US public health guidelines, Mr Trump should remain in isolation for up to 10 days after symptoms first appear. The White House says the president first started to appear ill on Thursday evening, and later tested positive.

Source: BBC

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