Less than 24 hours after tweeting he had come down with coronavirus, President Donald Trump’s isolation is changing locations “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the White House.
Initially, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were planning to recover at the White House and had started the day in isolation. Now Trump will spend “a few days” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The White House says this is precautionary and Trump will work from the hospital’s presidential suite so he can continue official duties.
Trump has had what the White House has called mild symptoms since the announcement shortly before midnight Friday, including fatigue, fever, cough, congestion and chills.
Melania Trump is not being hospitalized at last word.
3:45 pm Friday: President rearranging schedule as he, First Lady deal with COVID-19 infections
For the time being, President Donald Trump is postponing or turning scheduled events into virtual activities after his recent diagnosis of coronavirus.
The White House says Trump is altering his Presidential campaign schedule as he “convalesces” with a month to go before the Nov. 3 general election. Previously-announced events involving the First Family are also being postponed until further notice.
Both Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made separate social media announcements about developing COVID-19 late Thursday night. The Trumps have unspecified “mild” symptoms.
The Trumps’ situations followed the announcement of coronavirus infecting close adviser Hope Hicks, who had traveled with the President on Air Force One to Tuesday’s debate against challenger Joe Biden before traveling on Marine One on Wednesday. All three, as well as Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins, were part of Saturday’s event to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s nominee for US Supreme Court. They have now tested positive for the virus. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, have tested negative, as have Biden, his wife, Jill, and running mate Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.
Trump was ratcheting up his campaign appearances after a busy September that saw 15 rallies for the President. Trump had five rallies scheduled over the next few days. A scheduled rally Friday in Florida has been canceled.
6 am Friday: President, First Lady, key adviser confirmed with virus
President Donald Trump has coronavirus. So does First Lady Melania Trump and a key adviser.
Late Thursday night, the President tweeted the First Couple tested positive, with confirmation earlier in the day. Both will “convalesce” at the White House until further notice. In a statement released by the White House, physician Sean Conley says both are well at this time.
The positive tests for the Trumps followed confirmation Hope Hicks, part of a tight group of presidential advisors, tested positive this week after traveling to and from the first presidential debate on Air Force One with President Trump on Tuesday and also traveling on Marine One, the president’s helicopter, on Wednesday. President Trump had already announced he would go into quarantine before he and Melania Trump tested positive.
Word on how this will affect the First Couple’s schedule, including the upcoming debate Oct. 15 with Joe Biden, is currently pending.
