Alexis Rapoza
News Editor
WASHINGTON, D.C., -- On early Friday morning, President Trump announced via Twitter that he and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, had tested positive for the Coronavirus. According to a statement from the White House, the President and First Lady were both experiencing ‘mild’ symptoms, including a fever and fatigue. The news of the President’s positive test result comes after a report on Thursday stating that White House advisor Hope Hicks, who had had close contact with the President, had also tested positive.
According to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, “remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day.” However, the White House announced Friday afternoon that the President would be spending a few days in Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which aides claimed was a precautionary measure.
At a Press Conference on Friday McEnany stated, “Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”
A memo released from White House Physician Dr. Sean Conley claimed that President Trump had been administered “a single 8 gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail” as well as zinc, melatonin vitamin D, and daily aspirin. Regeneron’s Polyclonal antibody cocktail is not yet approved for widespread use. However, the treatment has provided promising results in candidates who have received the treatment. Initial results have shown the treatment can potentially help shorten hospital stays when administered early in the virus. Regeneron is currently being studied in four late-stage trials and could potentially be approved for wide-spread use.
It is unclear when or where the President contracted the coronavirus. Leading scientists believe that most people can begin to exhibit symptoms anywhere from 2 to 14 days following exposure. In the week leading up to the President’s positive test result, Trump attended several events in which he could have been exposed to the virus. In addition to a campaign rally held in Pennsylvania on Saturday which was attended by the President and thousands of maskless supporters, the president also held a Rose Garden Ceremony in which he announced his Supreme Court Nominee. Two people, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and University of Notre Dame president John Jenkin, who attended the ceremony, also announced on Friday that they tested positive for the coronavirus.
Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager assured the general public that all campaign events would either be postponed or moved online. He said, “All previously announced campaign events involving the President’s participation are in the process of being moved to virtual events or are being temporarily postponed. In addition, previously announced events involving members of the first family are also being temporarily postponed.”