In April career lobbyist and Trump campaign official Michael Caputo was appointed chief spokesperson for the US health department, overseeing the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He’s been accused of altering the scientific reports coming out of the CDC regarding COVID-19 to align more closely with President Trump’s optimistic message about the disease.

He has now gone on medical leave after an unhinged conspiracy-laden Facebook Live rant.

Reporter: Matt Bevan