President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis hasn’t changed his approach to the pandemic

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020

President Trump’s doctors are saying that the president is doing, “extremely well,” after being hospitalized with COVID-19 over the weekend. “Horizonte” host José Cárdenas spoke to Dr. Shad Marvasti of the U of A’s College of Medicine on what we’re hearing about the  president’s condition.

Dr. Marvasti said that the president’s age, weight and history of high cholesterol all put him in a higher-risk category with regard to COVID-19. “The fact that he was hospitalized, I think is significant in showing that it was much more severe than a mild to moderate case, especially when you consider, in the White House they have an entire medical suite with oxygen and fluids.”

The reported regimen of treatment, which included an experimental antibody treatment, also indicates the severity of the president’s illness, said Dr. Marvasti.

Despite this, President Trump doesn’t seem to be changing his outlook on the disease.

“I’m actually very disappointed and saddened by his choice of words,” Dr. Marvasti said. “I understand that maybe he is trying to show his strength…but as president it is really critical to show sympathy for the over 210,000 lives that have been lost.”

“Also, from a leadership perspective, it is important to be clear that you should take the precautions,” Dr. Marvasti said. “It’s not about fear, it’s about following the science, and in the role of president, it’s important that you reinforce the science on public health and not undermine it.”

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President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis hasn't changed his approach to the pandemic

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In this segment:

Dr. Shad Marvasti, MPH, Director , Public Health, Prevention, and Health Promotion University of Arizona College of Medicine

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