US President, Donald Trump, left the Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday evening, after three days of receiving treatment for COVID-19.
After arriving at the White House, Trump reportedly removed his mask for a photo-op with photographers and saluted. The president continued to leave it off as staffers approached to greet him.
Trump plans on continuing his treatment for the illness at the White House and is still likely contagious.
Earlier on Monday, the president announced he would be leaving the military hospital, which is located in Maryland, near Washington D.C.
In a post on Twitter, Trump said he was “feeling really good” and downplayed the effects of the virus, writing: “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life.”
It is now unclear for how long Trump will continue to quarantine. Prior to his departure from the hospital, Trump vowed he “will be back on the campaign trail soon.”
The virus has so far killed more than 210,000 Americans.
Giving an update on Trump’s health on Monday prior to his release, Dr. Sean Conley, the president’s physician, said that he “may not entirely be out of the woods yet” but they “agree that all our evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status support the president’s safe return home, where he’ll be surrounded by world class medical care.”
Reuters news agency quoted Trump’s medical team as saying that the president had met or exceeded all discharge criteria. Doctors also said that Trump will get fifth dose of Remdesivir at the White House on Tuesday. He hasn’t had fever for 72 hours and his oxygen levels are normal, they added.
Trump’s condition improved overnight from Sunday night to Monday morning, according to doctors.
Doctors treating Trump said they were unsure when he’ll no longer be contagious for the virus or when he’d be able to travel again. Trump is being treated with a steroid, dexmethasone, which is normally used only in the most severe cases.
Trump’s move to immediately remove his mask upon arriving at the White House sparked immediate concerns about how whether the president will isolate himself.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms can be contagious for at least 10 days and should remain in isolation.
The president’s White House return raises questions about how the administration was going to protect other officials from the virus. It is unclear how many people at the White House have already been infected with the disease.
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced Monday morning she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was entering quarantine.
Questions remain concerning the actual timeline of Trump’s positive test result and when he first showed symptoms.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows previously defended a controversial decision for the president to leave his hospital suite on Sunday to drive by supporters outside the medical facility. Dr. James Phillips, a medic at the facility, described the move as “insanity.”
With less than a month to go until election day, Trump is eager to keep campaigning and stay in the public eye. Monday also saw a return to regular Twitter use for the president.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tested negative for coronavirus on Sunday.