By Emma Ascott
Local physicians had mixed reactions to President Donald Trump’s tweet telling the American people to “not be afraid of COVID-19.”
This past week President Trump, who is convalescing after catching the virus, tweeted to the public: “Do not be afraid of COVID. Do not let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump administration, really great drugs and knowledge.”
This came after he was diagnosed with the virus and was set to leave Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
“This is coming from his personal experience and opinion of the coronavirus, which he is entitled to. The coronavirus, as we have learned, can have a variance of severity depending on comorbidities a person may have,” said Dr. Susan Lasala-Wood of the Sunset Clinic in North Scottsdale said.
“Clinically, I have seen both extremes with the coronavirus. I am not surprised by how quickly President Trump has been able to recover. President Trump should still take standard precautions and be monitored for the next couple of weeks for any other underlying illnesses that can still develop. As a primary care provider, I would counsel any patient to always use standard precautions to prevent illness, as this is part of basic hygiene,” she said.
An event at the White House Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Amy Coney-Barrett to the Supreme Court has been called a “super-spreader” of the virus. More than 200 people attended the Sept. 26 event, and nearly a dozen people in attendance later tested positive for COVID-19.
The president, his wife, aide Kellyanne Conway and many of his associates all contracted COVID-19 around this time. Trump’s circle confirmed he had been considerably sicker than previously announced, enough so that he required supplemental oxygen on the morning of Oct. 2 after laboring to breathe.
White House physician Sean Conley said on Oct. 8 that he “fully anticipates the president’s safe return to public engagements” on Oct 10. Conley did not provide any information about whether Trump has or will be tested for the virus.
“Fear makes people sicker. To say not to be afraid is right – we do not want more fear; the subconscious is very powerful. Regardless if you like Trump, we cannot be afraid of disease. This does not mean to not be concerned or not to be aware; if we take our strength back, we can take our health back. If you take care of your immune system, you will be just fine through this,” said North Scottsdale physician Dr.Leisa Grgula of the Accurate Care Pain Relief Center.
“When COVID first came about, two million deaths were predicted, which was terrifying. There were predictions that if you had diabetes or other comorbidities that the likelihood of complications with the virus were going to be astronomical. So initially I knew we were in trouble. We now have better immune system treatment protocols with zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, Quercetin, and antibody infusions. Now that we have COVID identified and its pathogenicity, we have solid protocols for treatment; for that reason, COVID needs to be respected, but not feared,” said Dr. Ricardo Lerma of Summit Health Center in Cave Creek.
It’s true that while he’s had outstanding care, Trump’s therapies have been similar to those available to most other hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but with two major exceptions. The president received a dose of an experimental drug only tried so far in about 2,000 people as part of a research trial.
He rapidly received the nonstandard drug, a combination of monoclonal antibodies. He also was given remdesivir and steroids.
Dr. Lerma says that while the president’s comments on not fearing COVID are true, he wants to emphasize the need for the population to participate in COVID prevention, such as taking the correct supplements to build a stronger immune system.
