By Miya Tanaka,
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he is feeling better than before as he battles the novel coronavirus, but suggested the coming days will be crucial to his recovery.
"I'm starting to feel good. You don't know, over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test," the 74-year-old said in a video message posted on Twitter after he was admitted to a military hospital near Washington on Friday having contracted the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020
Concerns linger over the president's health, as being male, of advanced age and overweight he is at higher risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19.
He has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus, telling the public to stay calm because the virus would just "go away," and has pushed ahead to reopen the economy from the pandemic-triggered shutdown.
"I had no choice because I just didn't want to stay in the White House," he said, a statement some interpreted as a defense of his campaigning activities and public events.
"I had to be out-front, and this is America. This is the United States. This is the greatest country in the world. This is the most powerful country in the world. I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe and just say, 'Hey, whatever happens, happens.' I can't do that," he said.
Trump, who disclosed that he tested positive for the virus in a tweet early Friday morning, has faced criticism over his handling of the pandemic, which has infected more than 7.3 million people and killed 209,000 in the United States, outstripping any other country.
With just weeks to go before the Nov. 3 presidential election, Trump expressed his desire to return to the campaign trail.
"I have to be back because we still have to 'make America great again,'" he said, adding, "I think I'll be back soon. And I look forward to finishing up the campaign, the way it was started."
Earlier in the day, a source familiar with the president's health said that Trump's vitals over the last 24 hours were "very concerning" and "the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care."
"We're still not on a clear path to a full recovery," the source told White House reporters.
The assessment seemed to have been at odds to that of the president's medical team provided in the morning.
In a press conference, a team of doctors said the president is doing "very well," experiencing no difficulty in breathing and has been fever-free for over 24 hours.
The president's physician Sean Conley also said at that time that Trump was not receiving any supplemental oxygen, but was elusive on whether he has never been on oxygen after he started battling COVID-19.
CNN reported that Trump received supplemental oxygen on Friday, citing a source close to the White House.
The president is staying at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The first lady, who also tested positive for the virus, has been convalescing in the residence at the White House.
Trump, wearing a jacket without a tie, said in the 4-minute video message made available Saturday evening that he was "not feeling so well" when he came to the hospital, but he feels "much better now."
He also expressed his appreciation to the world leaders for their "condolences" as well as to the support from the public.
"Again over the next few days we're going to probably know for sure. So I just want to thank everybody out there, everybody all over the world, specifically the United States, the outpouring of love has been incredible. I will never forget. Thank you very much," he said in his closing remarks.
