Joe Biden has criticized US President Donald Trump for downplaying the severity of coronavirus.  The democratic presidential nominee says there is “a lot to be concerned about”.

The BBC reports that Biden said that Trump should be communicating the “right lessons” on masking and social distancing. His comments followed Trump having told Americans not to fear Covid-19.

The US President is back in the White House where he is to continue his treatment for coronavirus after having spent three nights in hospital following his positive diagnosis. The BBC reports that a still highly contagious Trump, had removed his mask on the balcony of the White House while posing for pictures.

Biden said “I would hope that the president, having gone through what he went through… would communicate the right lesson to the American people. Masks matter.” He added, “There’s a lot to be concerned about. Two hundred and ten thousand people have died (in the US).”

According to US public health guidelines, a person infected with the virus should remain in isolation for up to 10 days after symptoms first appear. Trump’s physician Sean Conley refused to answer questions about when he last received a negative test. Trump’s doctors say they remain cautiously optimistic about the president’s health but “on guard” for at least the coming week should things take a turn for the worse.

Umm Muhammed Umar