President Donald Trump's medical team said Sunday that he was placed on a steroid therapy typically used with more severe Covid-19 cases and his condition was improving after multiple "episodes" over the weekend.
The doctors also said Trump could be discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as soon as Monday if he continues to improve.
Trump had said he was beginning to feel better and hoped to "be back soon" in a video message from the hospital on Saturday. The message came after his physicians provided more confusion than clarity during a press conference, offering different timelines on when Trump was diagnosed with Covid-19 and when he began treatment.
Trump's diagnosis has thrust his campaign into uncertainty with weeks to go before the Nov. 3 election. A number of people connected to Trump or White House events have also tested positive for the coronavirus. Among them were former aide Kellyanne Conway, three Republican senators and campaign manager Bill Stepien.
This live coverage has ended. Continue reading news from Mondayon the president's condition.
Biden says he'll still debate Trump next week 'if scientists say it's safe'
Joe Biden said Monday that he remained committed to debating President Trump in their scheduled face-off next week as long as scientists approve.
“If the scientists say that it’s safe, the distances are safe, then I think that’s fine," Biden told reporters before boarding a plane to Florida for a campaign event.
"I'll do whatever the experts say is the appropriate thing to do," he added.
The next presidential debate between Biden and Trump is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami, Fla., and is slated to have a town hall format. As of Monday morning, Trump remained hospitalized for Covid-19.
Two White House residence employees tested positive three weeks ago
Two members of the White House residence staff tested positive for the coronavirus roughly three weeks ago, a White House official confirmed to NBC News Sunday.
The official said the employees do not have regular contact with President Donald Trump, who along with the first lady, several aides and other Republican officials have tested positive for the virus. Additional information about the employees, whose positive tests were first reported by the New York Times, was not immediately available.
White House spokesman Judd Deere declined to comment on the staff members but said the White House "does take any positive case seriously and has extensive plans and procedures in place to prevent further spread."
Asked how residence staff are being protected while first lady Melania Trump convalesces there, her chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, said that "every precaution is being taken" to ensure their safety.
Trump criticized by medical experts after leaving hospital to drive past supporters
Trump briefly left his hospital room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to drive past a group of supporters, a move that medical experts and Democrats swiftly criticized as "insanity."
The president posted a video to his Twitter account around 5:15 p.m. announcing that he would "pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street." A few minutes later, the presidential motorcade slowly drove by the perimeter of the hospital, where a crowd had been gathering since Friday night. Trump was seen through the window of an SUV waving and wearing what appeared to be a cloth mask, as opposed to a more protective N95 mask.
The president does not travel anywhere without Secret Service protection, and Sunday's drive was no exception. At least two other people could be seen in the car with Trump.
The unannounced trip sparked backlash from several prominent Democratic lawmakers and some doctors not involved in his care, who accused Trump of unnecessarily putting Secret Service agents at risk.
Biden tests negative for Covid-19
Biden's campaign announced Sunday evening that the coronavirus test he took Sunday had come back negative.
"Vice President Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 today and COVID-19 was not detected," the campaign said in a statement distributed through the print pool, the small group of reporters traveling with the Democratic nominee.
It was the third negative test for Biden, who was tested twice Friday before he flew to Michigan to deliver remarks about what he called the patriotic duty of Americans to follow safety rules and prevent exposure after Trump's positive diagnosis. Biden told reporters he did not undergo a test Saturday, according to The Washington Post.
The campaign did not say whether Biden had more than one test Sunday.
Trump briefly leaves hospital to drive past supporters
Trump drove by a crowd of journalists and supporters standing outside Walter Reed around 5:30 pm ET on Sunday.
It's unclear who was driving and what, if any, precautions were taken to prevent further spread of the virus.
He returned to his hospital room soon after, the White House said.
Trump thanks supporters outside hospital and suggests he may go greet them
N.J. health officials say they're contacting fundraiser attendees, club staff
The New Jersey Health Department provided more information Sunday about its contact-tracing efforts surrounding Trump's fundraiser at his Bedminster golf club Thursday.
In a series of tweets, the department said that it has reached out to those who attended the fundraiser and that state officials were also interviewing the golf club's staff members to assess their level of exposure to the president and his aides, as well as to provide public health recommendations. The majority of the club's staff members live in Somerset County, the department said.
There has been growing frustration and anger at the state level because of how the White House responded to state officials' request for information about attendees and club staff, NBC News has reported.