Donald Trump no longer at risk of transmitting coronavirus, says doctor

Donald Trump is no longer at risk of transmitting coronavirus, his doctor has said.

Navy Commander Dr Sean Conley said Mr Trump meets the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for safely leaving self-isolation.

He added that by “currently recognised standards” he is no longer considered a transmission risk for Covid-19. The memo did not confirm if Mr Trump had tested negative for the virus.

It comes after the US president made his first public appearance since returning to the White House.

Mr Trump had spent three days in a hospital after contracting Covid-19. But on Saturday he hosted his first rally since returning to the White House.

Standing alone and not wearing a mask, Mr Trump spoke from the White House balcony at an event called "a peaceful protest for law & order," attended by a few hundred people standing on the lawn below.

“I’m feeling great,” said Mr Trump, who said he was thankful for their good wishes and prayers as he recovered.

He then declared that the pandemic, which has killed more than 210,000 Americans, was “disappearing” even though he is still recovering from the virus.

The president's appearance is seen as a first step towards resuming full campaigning next week.

Some medical experts have expressed concerns that Mr Trump could be declared free of the risk of transmitting the virus so early in the course of his illness.

Just 10 days since an initial diagnosis of infection, there was no way to know for certain that someone was no longer contagious, they said.

Dr Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist and department chairman at the Yale School of Public Health, said the White House appeared to be following CDC guidelines for when it is appropriate to end isolation after mild to moderate cases of Covid-19.

But Dr Ko warned that those who have had severe cases of the diseases should isolate for 20 days, noting Mr Trump was treated with the steroid dexamethasone, which is normally reserved for patients with severe Covid.

He added White House had issued “convoluted” statements about Mr Trump’s health that left many questions unanswered, including whether the president ever had pneumonia.

Meanwhile, Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist at George Mason University, said the tight time frame laid out by the White House made it appear “they’re really just pushing to get him out of isolation” and back to campaigning.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.

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