By: Eastern Eye Staff
US President Donald Trump said on Friday (2) that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19 and would immediately quarantine and begin the “recovery process”.
“We will get through this TOGETHER,” Trump tweeted.
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
The first lady tweeted that the couple was “quarantining at home” and “feeling good”, reiterating that “we will all get through this together”.
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
White House physician Dr Sean Conley said Trump, 74, was “well” and will continue to perform his duties while quarantining along with the first lady.
They “are both well at this time and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalesence”, he added in a statement.
“I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
Trump‘s positive test follows news that Hope Hicks, a top adviser and trusted aide, had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Hicks travels regularly with the president on Air Force One and, along with other senior aides, accompanied him to Ohio for the presidential debate on Tuesday and to Minnesota for a campaign event on Wednesday.
“You know I spend a lot of time with Hope, and so does the first lady,” Trump had told Fox News on Thursday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his “best wishes” to the American president and his wife.
My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, wished his “friend” Trump and the first lady “quick recovery and good health”.
Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health. https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2020
Trump, analysts said, was at high risk from the deadly virus both because of his age and because he’s considered overweight. He has remained in good health during his time in office but is not known to exercise regularly or to follow a healthy diet.
The president, who is tested regularly for the virus that causes Covid-19, has kept up a rigorous travel schedule across the country in recent weeks, holding rallies with thousands of people in the run-up to the November 3 election, despite warnings from public health professionals against having events with large crowds.
Trump has come under sharp criticism for his response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 people in the US alone. The president, however, has touted his management of the crisis.
His positive test caps a months-long response to the virus, the seriousness of which he had consistently underplayed. On Thursday night, Trump had predicted that the end of the pandemic was in sight.