In a memorandum published Wednesday, Conley wrote: “Of note today, the President’s labs demonstrated detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG [immunoglobulin G] antibodies from labs drawn Monday, October 5th; initial IgG levels drawn late Thursday were undetectable. We’ll continue to closely monitor, and I will update you as I know more.”

Conley also noted Wednesday: “The President this morning says, ‘I feel great!’ His physical exam and vital signs, including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, all remain stable and in normal range. He’s now been fever-free for more than 4 days, symptom-free for over 24 hours, and has not needed or received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “antibodies most commonly become detectable 1–3 weeks after symptom onset, at which time evidence suggests that infectiousness likely is greatly decreased and that some degree of immunity from future infection has developed.

“However, additional data are needed before modifying public health recommendations based on serologic test results, including decisions on discontinuing physical distancing and using personal protective equipment.

“The presence of antibodies may decrease a person’s infectiousness and offer some level of protection from reinfection. However, it remains uncertain to what degree and for how long individuals with antibodies (neutralizing or total) are protected against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2,” the CDC noted.

“Was a blessing from God” to catch COVID-19

A Marine Guard was pictured standing outside the Oval Office on Wednesday, which indicated the president is in the building.

“The Marine Guard is posted outside the West Wing door as @realDonaldTrump spends time in the Oval Office,” noted a photographer for The New York Times, Doug Mills, who Tweeted images of the soldier standing outside the office.

In a video message shared Wednesday, the president said “I’m standing in front of the Oval Office at the White House, which is always an exciting place to be.

“I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it [COVID-19]. This was a blessing in disguise.

Speaking about the experimental polyclonal antibody cocktail the president was given, Trump said: “I wasn’t feeling so hot, but within a very short period of time, they [doctors] gave me regeneron and other things too but I think this was the key. And it was like unbelievable, I felt good immediately. I felt as good three days ago as I do now,” Trump said in the video.

Trump was also treated with the steroid drug dexamethasone and the antiviral drug remdesivir. Dexamethasone and remdesivir are both used for COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The president was also taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin, Conley confirmed on Friday.

“I walked in [into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center], I didn’t feel good. A short 24 hours later I was feeling great. I wanted to get out of the hospital. And that’s what I want for everybody. I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president, because I feel great,” the president said.

What other doctors say

Speaking to Newsweek, the executive director of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Jane Orient, said: “The president was prescribed extra vitamin D and zinc, which are critical for resisting viral illnesses including COVID. Exposure to sunlight and an adequate diet (beef is rich in zinc) might also have given the president a better baseline than most Americans, contributing to his rapid recovery.

“In any viral disease, it is important to treat early before massive viral replication has occurred. Unlike the president, most Americans are being denied early treatment. Most will not be able to obtain remdesivir, and there is no evidence that I am aware of concerning its use very early in the course of the illness. It is not FDA [Food and Drug Administration]-approved,” she added.

Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Noah Greenspan, a cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist in New York, said: “For many [COVID-19] patients, they can feel perfectly find during or even several hours after an activity, only to see a relapse in their condition or a flare of their symptoms and in some cases, even the onset of new symptoms.

“For this reason, I would caution the president (as I do with all of my patients to err on the side of caution, underdoing rather than overdoing. COVID is not a disease for the faint of heart, it’s not a disease that can be powered through, and it’s not a question of mind over matter. It needs to be treated with humility and respect,” Greenspan added.

Trump can be at Oval Office in a “safe way”

The president returned to the Oval Office earlier than the period of isolation recommended for those infected or who might be infected, according to CDC guidelines which note: “As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask.

The CDC adds: “You can be around others after 10 days since symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.”

The White House is keeping access to the Oval Office extremely limited, according to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern told reporters: “We can do it [have Trump in the Oval Office] in a safe way, we can disinfect regularly. We have PPE [personal protective equipment] that we can use. And we can interact with him standing back.”

The wider picture

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 36.1 million people across the globe since it was first reported in Wuhan, China, including over 7.5 million in the U.S. More than a million have died following infection, while more than 25.2 million have reportedly recovered as of Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates a survey of U.S. adults concerned about catching COVID-19.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates U.S. states with the most COVID-19 cases.