Donald Trump and his wife Melania have both tested positive for COVID-19. This comes after news broke of Hope Hicks, a top senior aid, tested positive for COVID-19. Things just took an even more crazy twist in this election. Wild.
Donald Trump and his wife Melania have both tested positive for COVID-19. This comes after news broke of Hope Hicks, a top senior aid, tested positive for COVID-19. Things just took an even more crazy twist in this election. Wild.
While I wouldn't normally want to wish this on anybody I hope it's a bit more than just a bad cold for him.
Not fatal, just enough to show Covid is the real deal.
Honestly, I’m very surprised it took this long. I thought he must have exceptional protections to get away with how he’s been acting.
Given his age and obesity, this could be tough for him.
Meh. It will miraculously dissapear and go away.
Why did he get tested, that would only make the numbers go up.....🤪
And apparently so did Pence and his wife. All idiots. Now if none of them gets really sick they’ll be saying it’s like a little cold. Sigh.
I thought he was tested daily, as a matter of protocol. Not sure where I heard this though. I think daily testing was begun earlier when some White House staff or personnel turned up ill with Covid last spring.
I assume this is the CRISPR test, because it is fast and sensitive.
Has there been any announcement of whether the President or his wife are symptomatic? Fever, myalgia, etc? Or just CRISPR positive?
Since the Vice President has not been sworn in, one would have to assume the President still feels able to serve and that his medical advisors tend to agree he is not impaired.
The markets fell pretty sharply, early this morning before opening, but seem to be moderating somewhat. But the day is early still.
Pence and his spouse were reported to test negative this morning.
We certainly are living in interesting times...
I’m interested in the test if you find more info about it. My son in law the physician says the false positive rate is up around 20%, and it’s devastating because once people get a negative result they don’t realize how innacurrate the test is.
I see vague references to the White House test being questionable.
They are reporting that the president has a fever and a cough, while Melania is asymtomatic.
From San Francisco Chronicle’s article this morning:
“Once you get into the hospital, you may not die but you certainly stay in there a long time. And he’s at high risk of going into ICU if he gets into the hospital,” Chin-Hong said. “The rosiest picture for him is mild illness, which is still a week, and then waiting for 10 days after symptoms before he can come out of isolation.”
I don't know what test they're using at the White House, at all, but my suspicion is that it almost has to be some variation of the CRISPR test as that is the most sensitive, and theoretically the most accurate.
But I am aware that some reports have felt it is too sensitive, and can lead to false postive tests. I don't think it gives too much in the way of false negatives if done properly and I am assuming the medical staff in the White House has access to good tests.
I had heard later today that the President had some mild symptoms - if he is coughing that can't be good. His risk of death at his age may approach 2-4%. Might be less with the health care he will receive.
I am certain there are some thoughtless folks who will be delighted to hear that, but the potential issues of a sick President are many.
Losing a presidential candidate to disease, less than a month before the election has never happened, that I am aware of. Hopefully it won't come to that.
The good news just keeps on comin' in 2020. -> ( That is an ironic statement of mine, for those who might miss my attempt at humor. )
Edit - Here's a bit more about the test @Chris
I thought it would be a CRISPR test but CNN says it is a rapid test from Abbott labs, but that it is not a CRISPR test - Ten states have elected not to authorize the Abbott test in this quote from the article
"Ten state health agencies told CNN they specifically recommend or require that individuals who test negative on the Abbott rapid device be retested, and most recommended using a different, slower, more reliable method for diagnosing Covid-19, known as lab-based "polymerase chain reaction" or PCR tests."
I guess it's this one?
My son in law is horrified that anyone could rely on a test like this because of the high rate of false negatives.
Yup, see my edited thread above 😄 Too many false negatives, but fewer false positives, maybe?
Better article here as one would expect, I think - New York Times
As I read the article, I see why folks have some questions - too many steps, too many potential points of failure.
Mike Lee, the R senator from Utah just announced he has tested positive and will be in quarantine. Lee is a member of the Judiciary Committee which will start hearings re: Trump’s Supreme Court nominee on Oct. 12. Lee has said he will only quarantine for 10 days so he can attend the hearings when they start.
This is how I feel about it too: I'm hoping for the Boris Johnson effect for the sake of his millions of followers who adore him.
This guy is supposed to be smart enough to be on the panel selecting a supreme court judge but is not smart enough to quarantine for 14 days.
Second R senator on the Judiciary Committee has now tested positive. Thom Tillis.
I dunno what this means. Fox News says he’s fine.
Trump announcing he has Coronavirus is his most liked Tweet ever according to Fox News.
It occurs to me that maybe they decided to get him to Walter Reed while he could still walk under his own power. Don’t want footage of him being wheeled to Marine One in a wheelchair or on a gurney...
I agree with the doctor who wrote this article. But then I’d hope Trump took all the snake oil treatments he’s promoted since this all started. If he died it would likely save tens of thousands of lives because more people would listen. Not saying I want him to die but his actions have certainly increased his odds of getting this.
⬆️ An article on Slate says Trump should resign and drop out. They got a point.
Trump has taken an antibody treatment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/health/trump-antibody-treatment.html
Slate is a left wing media outlet. Of course they think he should resign. They’ve thought as much for years now I’m sure.