United States President Donald Trump and First Lady, Melanie Trump, have tested positive for coronavirus.
Trump announced that both he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 and will quarantine at his residential home within the White House – where he is expected to carry out his official duty as president.
The president broke the news of their positive test via his official Twitter handle on Friday, October 2, 2020.
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
His physician, Sean P. Conley, wrote minutes later that Trump and his wife “are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence.”
Mr. Trump was diagnosed hours after it became publicly known that Hope Hicks, one of his closest advisers, tested positive on Thursday morning.
The duo had traveled together on Air Force One and Marine One to the first presidential TV debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden this week.
His diagnosis comes just over a month before the country’s presidential elections on 3 November where he faces Mr. Biden.
Testing positive for Covid-19 could be a watershed moment for the 74-year old Republican who has frequently played down the seriousness of the virus.
Mr. Trump has refused for months to wear a mask in public on all but a few occasions and repeatedly questioned their effectiveness while mocking Mr. Biden for wearing one.
The US remains the country worst hit by coronavirus, with more than 7 million confirmed cases and over 205,000 deaths at the time of this report.
Photo Credit: USA
