President didn't disclose 1st positive test, sources say

The president had already tested positive Thursday when he appeared on Fox News.

ByMatt Zarrell, Jon Haworth, Ivan Pereira, and Marc Nathanson
Last Updated: October 5, 2020, 7:58 AM EDT

President Donald Trump's condition is continuing to improve as he fights a coronavirus infection, doctors say, and he may be able to leave Walter Reed Medical Center as early as Monday -- even as details emerge that the president allegedly initially tested positive for COVID-19 earlier than he acknowledged.

Doctors also reported that Trump, over the course of exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, had earlier experienced two episodes of "transient drops" in his oxygen saturation.

Yet the president was feeling well enough Sunday evening to briefly leave Walter Reed for a surprise drive-by, waving to supporters outside the hospital.

Meanwhile, numerous questions remain about how many people at the highest levels of government had been exposed to the virus after a week of events involving the president where social distancing and mask-wearing were lax in the White House and elsewhere.

Sunday's headlines:

Here is how the news developed on Sunday. All times Eastern.
Oct 04, 2020, 12:23 PM EDT

Trump was given supplemental oxygen, doctors confirmed

The medical team refused on Saturday to confirm that President Trump was given supplemental oxygen as part of his treatment for the coronavirus, but on Sunday Dr. Sean Conley said the president had been in fact given supplemental oxygen at least once.

Sources close to Trump told ABC News the president was having trouble breathing and received supplemental oxygen on Friday at the White House after his oxygen levels dropped. This in part prompted the president to be transferred to Walter Reed Hospital late Friday afternoon.

When asked why that information was not disclosed until Sunday, Conley said he was "trying to reflect the -- the upbeat attitude that the team, the president, that this course of illness has had."

"I didn't want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction. And in doing so, you know, it came off that we were trying to hide something which wasn't necessarily true."

Conley was asked if Trump had been given a second round of supplmental oxygen on Saturday and he said he'd "have to check with the nursing staff" but if additional oxygen was administered, it would have been "very, very limited."

Oct 04, 2020, 12:13 PM EDT

Doctors asked about Trump not wearing a mask in videos

Dr. Sean Conley and the medical team were asked about videos that showed President Trump not wearing a mask while updating the public on his current condition.

Conley told reporters on Sunday that the president "wears a mask anytime he's around us" and that all hospital officials are wearing their N95 masks and full personal protective equipment.

Oct 04, 2020, 12:05 PM EDT

Doctors hope to discharge Trump as early as Monday

Dr. Garibaldi, part of the medical team treating President Trump, said if the president continues to look and feel as well as he does Sunday, the hope is he can be discharged as early as Monday to return to the White House where he can continue his treatment.

Oct 04, 2020, 12:05 PM EDT

Trump has had no fever since Friday morning

Trump's medical team said the president has remained without a fever since Friday morning and his vital signs are stable. He is not complaining of any shortness of breath or other significant respiratory symptoms.

Trump is walking around the White House medical unit at Walter Reed without any limitation or disability.

Doctors continue to monitor cardiac, liver and kidney function, which continue to show normal findings.