Richard Schiff ‘cautiously optimistic’ he’ll be released from hospital ‘soon’ after COVID treatment

Richard Schiff is showing further improvement in his battle with COVID-19.

The 65-year-old West Wing star tested positive for the virus on November 3 and has been hospitalized since Monday, according to his social media and that of his wife Sheila Kelley.

And in a Wednesday tweet, Schiff wrote, ‘Covid update. I was just taken off Oxygen!!’  

Update: Richard Schiff is showing further improvement in his battle with COVID-19

The Good Doctor actor continued, ‘Markers are down. Cautiously optimistic for release soon. Perhaps all the prayers and thoughts need a big thank you.’

‘@thesheilakelley also doing better. Let’s keep sending positivity to everyone out there struggling. We got your back!

The veteran actor first tested positive for the virus on November 3 – along with his wife Sheila Kelley and son Gus – and the family had been recovering in their home in Vancouver. 

On the mend: In a Wednesday tweet, Schiff wrote, 'Covid update. I was just taken off Oxygen!!' Seen here in 2019

On the mend: In a Wednesday tweet, Schiff wrote, ‘Covid update. I was just taken off Oxygen!!’ Seen here in 2019

But he revealed on Monday that he has been hospitalized, and he is now being treated with ‘Remdesivir, O2 and steroids’ as he regains strength. 

His wife and son remain ill but are at home and and Schiff said that Kelley, who stars with him in ‘The Good Doctor’, is ‘doing better’. 

Kelley revealed in a separate post that it was ‘tough’ to see her husband hospitalized and that the family does not know where they contracted the virus. ‘He’s getting better. He’s getting stronger,’ she added of Schiff.  

A tough turn: Schiff was admitted to a hospital as he continues to fight COVID-19. The West Wing actor took to Twitter on Monday to share the news with his followers as his wife Sheila Kelley also has the coronavirus; seen in December 2019

A tough turn: Schiff was admitted to a hospital as he continues to fight COVID-19. The West Wing actor took to Twitter on Monday to share the news with his followers as his wife Sheila Kelley also has the coronavirus; seen in December 2019

His hit show: The actor is best known for his work on The West Wing; seen here far left with Martin Sheen, Robe Lowe and others. He and his wife Sheila Kelley currently star together in 'The Good Doctor' which is continuing to film as the couple recover from coronavirus

His hit show: The actor is best known for his work on The West Wing; seen here far left with Martin Sheen, Robe Lowe and others. He and his wife Sheila Kelley currently star together in ‘The Good Doctor’ which is continuing to film as the couple recover from coronavirus

Not easy: 'Covid update. Thank you all for so much love and support. You’re making it so much easier for @thesheilakelley and me,' said the 65-year-old star on Twitter Monday

Not easy: ‘Covid update. Thank you all for so much love and support. You’re making it so much easier for @thesheilakelley and me,’ said the 65-year-old star on Twitter Monday

‘Covid update. Thank you all for so much love and support. You’re making it so much easier for @thesheilakelley and me,’ Schiff wrote on Twitter on Monday evening. 

‘I am in the hospital on Remdesivir, O2 and steroids showing some improvement every day. Sheila is home and doing better but still fairly ill. Love you all.’

His 59-year-old spouse also took to social media to deliver a more in-depth update.

‘Covid update. Richard is definitely slammed a bit harder than me or @schiffboat Gus and I are having a better day than yesterday. @Richard_Schiff had a better day yesterday. Please send lots of prayers,’ she wrote on Twitter.

She shared more about the family’s battle with coronavirus on Instagram stating that ‘the last 72 hours have been tough’ as she spoke about her husband’s hospitalization. 

‘Thank you for all of your prayers and your love. We feel them. He’s doing better. Getting stronger,’ she wrote. 

‘My son and I are still riding this strange covid coaster of up and then down and all around,’ Kelley added. 

‘I have never experienced anything like this before in my life. One minute I’m feeling pretty good and the next I’m struggling to believe. What I do know is that if you get this virus the relationship between you and your body is everything. List to your body. Not what everyone around you is saying. 

‘Because in the wee hours of the morning when all the experts are sleeping you might fell the tightness across your chest. And you suck every ounce of air into your lungs that you can muster. It is just you and your body. 

‘My body is leading me through this and I am grateful to her.’

In better times: Here Richard and Sheila attend the Upfronts celebration at The Bowery Hotel in May 2018 in New York City. The both tested positive for coronavirus on November 3

In better times: Here Richard and Sheila attend the Upfronts celebration at The Bowery Hotel in May 2018 in New York City. The both tested positive for coronavirus on November 3

She is at home: His 59-year-old spouse also took to social media. 'Covid update. Richard is definitely slammed a bit harder than me or @schiffboat Gus and I are having a better day than yesterday. @Richard_Schiff had a better day yesterday. Please send lots of prayers,' she wrote

She is at home: His 59-year-old spouse also took to social media. ‘Covid update. Richard is definitely slammed a bit harder than me or @schiffboat Gus and I are having a better day than yesterday. @Richard_Schiff had a better day yesterday. Please send lots of prayers,’ she wrote

Kelly said on Instagram on Monday evening that seeing Schiff be hospitalized was 'tough'

Kelly said on Instagram on Monday evening that seeing Schiff be hospitalized was ‘tough’

Kelley said that the family has no idea where they became infected with the virus. 

‘Where did we catch it? I don’t know. Could have been the gym. Could’ve been takeout. It’s impossible to know,’ she wrote. 

‘Keep masking up. Washing hands. Stay away from this virus. It is a m********r. We love you.’

Schiff continued to thank those sending him best wishes on Twitter throughout Monday evening but delivered no further update on his condition.  

He broke news of his positive test last week, taking to social media to write: ‘On Election Day I tested positive for Covid-19. This has been the most bizarre week of our lives.’

After tagging his wife as ‘also positive’, he continued: ‘This is tough. We are determined to find a way to health again. We root for everyone out there who are struggling with this thing. Love from here.’

Kelley also shared more on her experience of suffering with coronavirus

Kelley also shared more on her experience of suffering with coronavirus

The family does not know how they contracted the virus. They live in Vancouver

The family does not know how they contracted the virus. They live in Vancouver

Kelley, who has appeared in assorted feature films and television shows, also shared the news on Instagram. 

‘Richard and I have some news. We have both tested positive for COVID-19. We’re quarantined in our home in Vancouver, recovering,’ she wrote. 

‘This virus is a slippery sucker. One minute you feel almost fine and the next you can’t catch your breath. Symptoms change radically daily even hourly.  

Schiff and Kelly, pictured together above in 2018, star together in 'The Good Doctor'

Schiff and Kelly, pictured together above in 2018, star together in ‘The Good Doctor’

‘For those of you who do not have this virus stay healthy keep practicing physical distancing,’ she also added. ‘If you have Covid we’re in this together. Breath deeply. Breath slowly. Breath fully. We will get through this together.’

Schiff most recently took part in The West Wing’s one-off reunion on HBO Max, where he joined costars Martin Sheen, Allison Janney and others for a special in partnership with When We All Vote in support of now president-elect Joe Biden and his incoming vice president Kamala Harris.

He and Kelley had two children together, 26-year-old Gus and 20-year-old Ruby. 

According to Variety, ‘The Good Doctor’ has continued production on the series in Vancouver, with the filming schedule being adjusted to accommodate the absence of Schiff and Kelley.

The news comes as the novel coronavirus continues to break records, with confirmed cases surpassing the 11.2million mark as of Tuesday.

An estimated 247,000 Americans have thus far lost their lives due to the pandemic.

At age 65, Schiff is part of the senior age group considered at high risk for potentially severe coronavirus symptoms. 

And while several U.S. states continue to impose restrictions to curb the spread of the virus as hospitalizations soar, there is a cautious optimism that an effective vaccine could be on the horizon.