Trump and First Lady Melania test positive for coronavirus
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced early this Friday morning that he and the First Lady, Melania Trump, have tested positive for coronavirus.
"Tonight, the first lady and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. Together we will get through this," Trump said on Twitter.
In a subsequent statement, the President's physician, Sean Conley, explained that "the President and First Lady are well at this time and plan to remain at home in the White House during convalescence.
Melania Trump, precisely, also said that both she and her husband are well.
"Like too many Americans this year, the President and I are in quarantine at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling fine and I have postponed all my upcoming commitments. Please be sure to be careful and we will all get through this together," she said.
Trump and his wife were tested after one of the president's closest advisors, Hope Hicks, tested positive on Thursday.
Hicks, 31, traveled several times this week on Air Force One with Trump, the last time Wednesday to Minnesota, where the president was holding a campaign rally. They also traveled together Tuesday to Cleveland, Ohio, for the presidential debate and Saturday to Pennsylvania for another rally.
U.S. media reported that the advisor experienced symptoms of coronavirus on the flight back to Washington from Minnesota, was quarantined on the presidential plane and confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
Hicks was seen without a mask at various times during these trips, as was Trump, who does not wear a mask in public.
Trump acknowledged his positive for the coronavirus two hours after announcing that he and the first lady were beginning a "quarantine process" due to Hicks's positive.
"Hope Hicks, who has been working very hard without even taking a little break, just tested positive for COVID-19. The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process," he said.
After confirming the positive result, the White House modified Trump's agenda for Friday by suspending the events he had planned outside the White House, which included a meeting with supporters at his hotel in Washington and a rally in Sanford, near Orlando, Florida.
Mr Trump's positive response is having a major impact on the US presidential campaign, which is due to be held on 3 November.
