President Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid-19 a month away from the US elections. His wife, Melania Trump, also contracted the virus.
White House physician Sean Conley reported that Trump and his wife were “both well” at the moment.
Trump confirmed his Covid-19 test result in a Tweet on Friday: “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
US stock futures went sharply lower with Dow futures dropping more than 500 points at one point following the president’s tweet.
Trump now among the major political figures who contracted the virus. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro both recovered from the disease.
In a memo early Friday morning, Conley said: “The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence.”
“The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions,” Conley said.
The doctor mentioned that Trump will “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
Hicks
Top White House aide Hope Hicks tested positive for coronavirus first. Hicks reportedly spends a lot of time with Trump. Hicks, the president, and his first lady went to Cleveland for the debate on Air Force One with a group that is composed of Trump’s relatives and advisors.
These were White House chief of staff Mark Meadows; national security advisor Robert O’Brien; the president’s lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany; the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, both of whom are senior White House advisors; the president’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric; Donald Jr’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, who previously had Covid; Eric’s wife Lara Trump; the president’s daughter Tiffany; campaign manager Bill Stepien; top campaign official Jason Miller; White House social media director Dan Scavino; White House counselor Derek Lyons; political advisor Stephen Miller; and Rep Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Trump is set to participate in another presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Oct. 15, or 13 days after he announced his diagnosis. The Commission on Presidential Debates did not immediately give a comment on how the latest announcement will affect the upcoming debates. Trump and Biden are expected to meet on Oct. 22.
Mask wearing
Trump, who is not used to wearing a mask after months of refusal, has mocked Biden for always wearing face coverings.
“I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen,” Trump said about Biden during their debate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on its website that Trump is at high risk of severe illness from the coronavirus.
NBC News reported that Hicks began manifesting symptoms Wednesday night, when she went to a campaign event in Minnesota. She quarantined on Air Force One on the way back and got positive test results the next day.
