Trump Says ‘I Feel So Good,’ Plans Public Rallies As Soon As This Weekend

Politico: Trump Makes Bold Claims About His Health As He Returns To The Fox Interview Circuit
President Donald Trump returned to form on Thursday morning, engaging in a freewheeling, 55-minute interview on Fox Business in which he made bold claims about his health and coronavirus in general just days after announcing he had contracted the deadly disease. The president, his voice steady but slightly raspy, even boasted that he was in shape to stage one of his marathon political rallies — if he was allowed to hold one. ... Using a joking tone, he claimed he was a “perfect physical specimen, adding “I’m lucky in that way.” (Niedzwiadek, 10/8)

AP: Trump Says He's Ready For Rallies But Details Slim On Health
While Trump said he believes he’s no longer contagious, concerns about infection appeared to scuttle plans for next week’s presidential debate. “I’m feeling good. Really good. I think perfect,” Trump said during a telephone interview with Fox Business, his first since he was released from a three-day hospital stay Monday. “I think I’m better to the point where I’d love to do a rally tonight,” Trump said. He added, “I don’t think I’m contagious at all.” (Miller, Colvin and Lemire, 10/9)

Politico: Trump Signals Rallies Will Resume This Weekend, After Doctor Issues Upbeat Health Report 
President Donald Trump said late Thursday that he hoped to resume in-person rallies this weekend, citing a note from his doctor that anticipated he’d be fit to do so. Speaking with Fox News‘ Sean Hannity, Trump said his team would try to arrange a rally in Florida, depending on logistics. “I think I'm going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we have enough time to put it together, but we want to do a rally probably in Florida on Saturday night,” he said. “I might come back and do one in Pennsylvania the following night, and it's incredible what's going on. I feel so good." (Choi, 10/8)

The Hill: White House Doctor Says Trump Safe To Return To Public Events On Saturday 
White House physician Sean Conley said Thursday that President Trump would be able to make a “safe return” to public events on Saturday, less than two weeks after being diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Conley issued a memo Thursday evening stating that Trump had completed his therapy for COVID-19 and that he has responded “extremely well” to treatment overall. The update came just three days after Trump returned to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received treatment for 72 hours. (Chalfant, 10/8)

The New York Times: As Trump Pushes For In-Person Debate, Doctor Gives Him Green Light
President Trump’s doctor said on Thursday that he’s completed his treatments to alleviate the symptoms of the coronavirus and that he anticipates that the president will be able to resume “public engagements” on Saturday. The forecast about Mr. Trump’s condition came from the White House physician, Dr. Sean Conley, in a note updating people on his health. Mr. Trump announced shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the virus; White House officials have declined to say when he last tested negative. (10/9)

Also —

AP: Trump Still Contagious? Experts Say It's Impossible To Know
President Donald Trump said Thursday he doesn’t think he’s contagious anymore, but medical experts say that’s impossible to know a week after his diagnosis with COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 can stop isolating and be around others about 10 days after they first showed symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s provided their symptoms have improved, they have not had a fever for 24 hours and are no longer on any medication to reduce a high temperature. But there’s no way to know for certain that someone is no longer contagious so soon after falling ill, experts say. (Renault, 10/9)

KHN: Stigma Against D.O.s Had Been Dissipating Until Trump’s Doctor Took The Spotlight 
Dr. Katherine Pannel was initially thrilled to see President Donald Trump’s physician is a doctor of osteopathic medicine. A practicing D.O. herself, she loved seeing another glass ceiling broken for the type of doctor representing 11% of practicing physicians in the U.S. and now 1 in 4 medical students in the country. But then, as Dr. Sean Conley issued public updates on his treatment of Trump’s COVID-19, the questions and the insults about his qualifications rolled in. (Weber, 10/9)