President Trump is "well" and will continue to perform his duties "without disruption" while quarantining along with the first lady, after both tested positive for the coronavirus, the president's physician said.
They "are both well at this time and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalesence," doctor Sean Conley said in a statement.
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
"Rest assured, I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering," Dr Conley said in a statement. "I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering."
As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
Trump said late Thursday he would go into quarantine after a top aide tested positive for coronavirus. The White House dropped a Florida campaign trip from Trump's schedule after he tested positive for COVID-19. He had been due to hold a campaign event at Sanford airport in Florida on Friday evening but his new schedule just lists a midday phone call on "Covid-19 support to vulnerable seniors."
Memorandum from President @realDonaldTrump's Physician pic.twitter.com/ujHUufQBln
— Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) October 2, 2020
White House spokesman Judd Deere said contact tracing for Trump and Melania Trump was being carried out. Bloomberg said the 74-year-old president's positive result was likely to sharpen an already intense public attention on his handling of the pandemic as he campaigns for re-election against Democrat Joe Biden, who leads in national polls.
New agency Reuters said Trump had kept up a rigorous travel schedule across the country in recent weeks, holding rallies with thousands of people in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election, despite warnings from public health professionals against having events with large crowds.
Trump had a packed schedule for Friday too including a private fund-raiser at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, a campaign rally in Florida and a call with "vulnerable seniors" about the disease, the New York Times reported.
The infection would impact Trump's ability to campaign in person for the presidential elections. There is no clarity from his office if he will continue to address events over video but his new schedule just lists a midday phone call on "Covid-19 support to vulnerable seniors."
