President arrives at White House, removes mask and salutes

In a tweet announcing the move, Trump wrote, "Don't be afraid of Covid."

ByJon Haworth, Matt Zarrell, Lauren King, Libby Cathey, and Michelle Stoddart
Last Updated: October 6, 2020, 8:27 AM EDT

President Donald Trump's condition is continuing to improve as he fights a coronavirus infection, doctors said, and he left Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday evening, landing at the White House shortly before 7 p.m.

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.

Administration member Judd Deere subsequently put out a statement saying that, "President Trump took a short, last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters outside and has now returned to the Presidential Suite inside Walter Reed."

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.

Monday's headlines:

Here is how the news developed on Monday. All times Eastern.
Oct 05, 2020, 3:56 PM EDT

Trump received oxygen treatment twice

Dr. Conley, when questioned, told reporters that Trump had two episodes that required he receive oxygen treatment and "recovered immediately."

On Sunday Conley would only confirm there was one time where Trump needed oxygen but said he would need to check with the nurses assisting with the president's treatment.

"He wasn't short of breath, he wasn't looking ill. It was more of us trying to anticipate needs and see how he’d respond, and both cases he came right off. He didn't need it for very long at all," Conley said.

Oct 05, 2020, 3:46 PM EDT

Dr. Conley was asked and refused to comment on President Trump's tweet telling people "Don't be afraid of Covid."

Dr. Sean Conley, physician to President Donald Trump, talks with reporters at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Oct. 5, 2020, in Bethesda, Md.
Evan Vucci/AP

"I'm not going to get into what the president says," Conley told reporters.

Oct 05, 2020, 3:41 PM EDT

'In a bit of uncharted territory' with Trump treatment

Dr. Conley, the president's physician, was asked about concerns of Trump's symptoms becoming worse after he is discharged and said the team remains "cautiously optimistic" and "on guard."

"We are in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received therapies he has so early in the course," he 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."

Oct 05, 2020, 3:35 PM EDT

Trump 'probably' met discharge requirements yesterday, doctor says

Trump "probably met most of his discharge requirements" from the hospital yesterday, Dr. Conley said, noting that Trump is returning to the White House medical unit that is staffed 24/7 with doctors and nurses.

Asked about control measures being taken around the president, Dr. Conley said the medical and security staff surrounding Trump are wearing full personal protective equipment.

The Secret Service agents were "in that same level of PPE for a very short period of time" yesterday -- likely referencing Trump's drive-by of supporters outside the hospital on Sunday.

"We've worked with our infectious disease experts to make some recommendations for how to keep everything safe, down at the White House, for the president and those around him," Conley said.

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