United States President Donald Trump tweeted about 18 hours after leaving Walter Reed medical centre that the current pandemic is comparable to the flu season.
"Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!" wrote Trump.
Comparing it to the flu, he reminded Americans that "despite the vaccine", thousands still die from the flu each year, and that people will learn to live with Covid-19.
He later tweeted that he was "feeling great" after leaving the hospital.
Criticised for trivialising pandemic
Trump was seen taking off his mask shortly after arriving at the White House upon leaving the hospital, despite still being infectious.
He also made a surprise appearance outside the hospital the day before he was discharged to greet his supporters in a drive-by.
His actions to undermine the impact of the disease have been criticised by both political rivals and public health experts.
In response to Trump taking off his mask after leaving the hospital, Joe Biden took the opportunity to highlight the incumbent's attitude towards the virus with a contrasting video of himself putting on a mask.
Trump's drive-by greeting before being discharged has also been criticised by James Phillips, an attending physician from Walter Reed hospital, calling it "completely unnecessary".
Trump's actions put the lives of people who had to sit in the vehicle with him "for political theatre" at risk, he said.
While Trump is out of the hospital, doctors that treated him for the infection have cautioned that he is "not out of the woods yet".
Background
Trump left Walter Reed medical centre after a three-day visit and made his way back to the White House on Monday evening, Oct. 5 (United States time).
Trump discharged after three days, tells people not to be afraid of Covid-19
He announced on Friday, Oct. 2 that he had contracted Covid-19, and was seen going to the hospital shortly after.
During his stay at the hospital, he received a trio of medicine treatment for the virus, including remdesivir, dexamethasone, and an experimental antibody therapy.
Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine at George Washington University said that Trump could be the only patient in the world to have received this set of medication.
Trump shared on Twitter that he was leaving the hospital after three days, telling people "don't be afraid of Covid", and that he was "feeling better than (he) did twenty years ago".
Trump also said he would be "back on the campaign trail soon".
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Top image collage via Getty