Donald Trump has claimed he might be “immune” to coronavirus despite being still infected with the disease, still contagious, while returning to his workplace.
In a video from the White House on Monday evening, the president said “we’re going back to work” and dismissed any concerns he might spread the disease to others.
“And I know there’s a risk,” he said. “There’s a danger. But that’s okay, and now I’m better. Maybe I’m immune. I don’t know”.
Trump also told Americans not to be afraid of the virus and said vaccines “are coming momentarily”.
Any potential vaccine is still at least months away from being ready.
He continued: “We have the best medical equipment. We have the best medicines all developed recently, and you’re going to beat it. I went … I didn’t feel so good.
“And two days ago, I could have left two days ago. Two days ago, I felt great. Like, better than I have in a long time. I said just recently … better than 20 years ago.
“Don’t let it dominate. Don’t let it take over your lives. Don’t let that happen.”
He continued: “We have the greatest country in the world. We’re going back. We’re going back to work. 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.
“We have the best medicines in the world, and they’re all happened very shortly, and they’re all getting approved.”
Trump was diagnosed with Covid-19 last week and has been receiving treatment at the state of the art Walter Reed Hospital where he stayed for only three nights.
He is still suffering from the virus, is almost certainly still contagious and gasped for breath during a photo op when he returned.
The US president appeared not to care about infecting photographers or staff as he walked up the staircase of the White House South Portico, removed his surgical mask, and posed for pictures, at times giving a thumbs-up and others a salute.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is the latest Trump staffer to test positive for Covid-19, adding to a long list of people close to the president who now have the virus.
Coronavirus has killed more than one million people worldwide and more than 210,000 in the United States alone – the highest death toll of any country.
Trump, 74, has not had a fever in more than 72 hours and his oxygen levels are normal, his medical team told reporters in front of the hospital. The doctors declined, however, to discuss any toll the disease could have on the president’s lungs or disclose when Trump last tested negative for the coronavirus.
The team added that the president had received supplemental oxygen twice in recent days.
“He may not entirely be out of the woods yet,” Dr Sean P Conley, the White House physician, said. “If we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving, better yet, then we will all take that final, deep sigh of relief.”