WHEN Donald Trump announced he was leaving Walter Reed Medical Centre last night and will continue his recovery at the White House, it became clear that his election campaign was in jeopardy as yet another of his key staff tested positive for coronavirus.
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany did not wear a mask recently in line with her boss’s stance on the issue, and yesterday she had to admit that she, too, had tested positive. The fear is that she has spread the virus to journalists. The White House Correspondents Association stated: “As of this moment we are not aware of additional cases among White House journalists, though we know some are awaiting test results.”
Those close to Trump and involved in his re-election campaign who have tested positive include First Lady Melania Trump, his senior aide Hope Hicks, consultant Kellyanne Conway, Republican Senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, New Jersey governor, campaign advisor Chris Christie, and Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
It is unclear how long Trump will remain in isolation at the White House. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms should isolate for at least 10 days. It comes at a time when Trump would normally be touring key states to whip up support ahead of the November 3 election. The president broke quarantine on Sunday to “drive by” his supporters, causing outrage, especially among Secret Service agents – at least two will now have to be quarantined for being in the car with him.
Dr James P Phillips of the emergency medicine department at George Washington University said: “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theatre. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theatre. This is insanity.”
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