US President Donald Trump tests positive for COVID-19
President of the United States (US) Donald Trump has announced he and his wife, First Lady Melania, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Trump made the announcement on Friday, October 2, 2020, on Twitter, which has undoubtedly become his preferred method of communication.
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!,” the tweet read.
Trump’s physician Dr Sean P. Conley confirmed the results, but said he would “maintain a vigilant watch.”
“The president had tweeted just hours before that he had tested for the respiratory disease and would go into quarantine after one of his top aides, Hope Hicks confirmed she was positive,” Conley said.
“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. Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments”
Hope Hicks: The latest Trump staffer to test positive for COVID-19
This comes after Hope Hicks, who is among a group of advisors for Trump, had announced she had tested positive, prompting him and his wife to also test for the virus. Having travelled frequently with the president, including to the Cleveland debate on Tuesday, 29 September 2020, they have come into contact several times.
“Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!,” he had tweeted.
Trump has long been accused by his detractors, mainly democrats, of downplaying the true extent of the virus. The White House maintains however, that Trump does in fact take the virus seriously and exercises the necessary measures. This is despite the fact that he is rarely seen wearing a face mask.
“The President takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously,” deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.
Several key White House employees have contracted the coronavirus, including National security adviser Robert O’Brien and Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence’s communications director.
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