President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have tested positive for Covid-19.
At approximately 6am this morning, Trump tweeted confirmation that both he and the First Lady had tested positive for coronavirus.
“Tonight,” Trump wrote, “@FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately.
“We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
The news of Trump’s contracting the virus comes after one of his closest aides, Hope Hicks, also tested positive after travelling with the president on Air Force One multiple times.
“Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid-19,” Trump tweeted.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
A statement released by the White House physician Sean Conley said that both 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.
“Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
The White House physician has released a statement on the president's and first lady's positive COVID-19 results. pic.twitter.com/zhOdXt3m3G
— Anthony Zurcher (@awzurcher) October 2, 2020
President Trump has long been a sceptic of Covid-19; even as recently as last week he told Americans that the virus “affects virtually nobody”. Aged 74 and overweight, President Trump potentially faces numerous complications from Covid-19.
A second presidential debate between President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden is scheduled for October 15 in Miami. It is not yet clear how Trump’s positive test result will affect this.
Other major world leaders have also tested positive for coronavirus. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a severe case of the disease, which ultimately required ICU treatment. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for Covid in July.
