The US president, Donald Trump and wife, Melania have tested positive for coronavirus.
Trump senior aide, Hope Hicks had earlier found positive to the virus. Trump reportedly spent substantial time in close proximity with Hicks this week.
The President had twitted, “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Trumps according to reports had entered quarantine earlier in the day after senior aide Hope Hicks had also tested positive.
Hicks was said to have spent a substantial amount of time in close proximity with Trump this week, including traveling with him to a campaign rally.
She also traveled with Trump several other days this week, including on board the presidential helicopter Marine One as well as on Air Force One.
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said “The President takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously.”
Recall that after several earlier positive cases close to the president, the White House began conducting daily tests for Trump’s senior aides and anyone else in close proximity with the president or vice president Mike Pence.
The virus has killed over 200,000 people in the United States, making it the world’s highest death toll. Over 7.2 million people in the US have been infected with the virus so far.
Trump critics have berated him for his response to the pandemic accused him of playing down the threat and refusing to abide by public health guidelines, including wearing masks.
