After getting an experimental antibody drug Regeneron, President Donald Trump's physician has confirmed that he is also taking remdesivir to treat his COVID-19.
In a statement released on the evening of Oct. 2, Dr. Sean Conley said the president has earlier received his first dose of experimental drug remdesivir and is comfortably resting. "This evening, I am happy to announce that the president is doing well," Dr. Conley wrote in the memo adding that Trump does not need to have oxygen supplement.
The FDA has approved remdesivir for emergency-use on May 1 as it was shown to shorten the recovery period for hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 15 days to 11 days. The drug prevents the virus from copying itself, so it cannot spread further, although it is not yet clear how the drug does that.
Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding welcomed the news as remdesivir "was shown to reduce illness duration." He also noted that the drug from Gilead Sciences Inc. is better than the earlier "sketchy use of the no-evidence Regeneron."
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Before being flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the president also received an 8-gram dose of Regeneron's experimental antibody drug. He was also taking vitamin D, melatonin, zinc as well as his daily dose of aspirin.
Trump was reported to be in "good spirits" but was earlier reported to feel lethargic and fatigue. He will continue his quarantine at Walter Reed with his wife.
Anti-Mask groups undeterred by Trump's diagnosis
On Oct. 2, POTUS Trump tweeted that he and first lady Melania have tested positive for COVID-19. Hours after, top aide Hope Hicks and Utah Senator Mike Lee also confirmed that they acquired the virus.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
The four officials attended the unveiling of SCOTUS nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, which the White House hosted on Sept. 26. Some guests on the event that occurred on the said date were not wearing masks. Sen. Lee was even seen maskless in photos as he was hugging, kissing, and chatting with other guests.
Aside from the top officials, three members of the White House press also tested positive, so the event was feared to be a superspreader.
Meanwhile, dozens of public and private social media groups with thousands of members are still urging people not to wear masks, despite increasing evidence that wearing them prevent the virus from spreading.
"The Free Face Society," a Facebook anti-mask group with 5,400 members, believes that "man cannot be free if he does not control his or her own face!"Based on the New York Times report, the number of people joining public anti-mask groups has increased by 1,800% since August. New York Times used data from Facebook-owned public insights tool CrowdTangle.
Anti-maskers claim wearing a mask can even do more harm than protect a person from the virus. They also believe that forcing someone to wear a face mask in public is against their constitutional rights.
According to the description of another group, "Anti-Mask Lives Matter," which has nearly 1,000 members, "Today, it seems as if being in public without a mask on is comparable to experiencing racism at its core."
This is owned by Tech Times
Written by CJ Robles
