Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Donald Trump Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Is In Isolation
AP: Trump, First Lady Positive For Virus; He Has 'Mild Symptoms'
resident Donald Trump is experiencing “mild symptoms” of COVID-19 after revealing early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, a stunning announcement that plunged the country deeper into uncertainty just a month before the presidential election. Trump, who has spent much of the year downplaying the threat of a virus that has killed more than 205,000 Americans, said he and Mrs. Trump were quarantining. The White House physician said the president was expected to continue carrying out his duties “without disruption” while recovering. A White House official said Friday morning that the president was experiencing mild symptoms but was working from the White House residence. (Colvin and Miller, 10/2)
Politico: Trump Tests Positive For Coronavirus
The 74-year-old president disclosed his diagnosis in a tweet at 12:54 a.m. on Friday, hours after news broke that top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive. “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” he tweeted, referencing first lady Melania Trump. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!“ (Choi, McGraw and Cook, 10/1)
The New York Times: Trump Tests Positive For The Coronavirus
Mr. Trump, who for months has played down the seriousness of the virus and hours earlier on Thursday night told an audience that “the end of the pandemic is in sight,” will quarantine in the White House for an unspecified period of time, forcing him to withdraw at least temporarily from the campaign trail only 32 days before the election on Nov. 3. (Baker and Haberman, 10/2)
The Washington Post: Trump Says He And First Lady Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus
The diagnosis is a jolt for the country’s leadership and had some advisers early Friday discussing the continuity of government should the president’s condition grow worse. The vice president was not known to be infected. Trump’s early-morning announcement marked an extraordinary turn for the first family, coming little more than a month before Election Day and as Trump has escalated his campaign pace in an effort to catch Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who leads in national and key state polls. Trump, aides and voters say, trails largely because of his handling of the virus, which has dominated voters’ attention along with the economic collapse caused by pandemic shutdowns. (Dawsey and Itkowitz, 10/2)
What are the health risks? —
The New York Times: Trump Has The Coronavirus. What Risks Does He Face?
In a statement, the president’s physician said Mr. Trump, who is 74, was “well” but did not say whether he was experiencing symptoms. He said the president would stay isolated in the White House for now. Here is what we know about how the virus could affect people with his general profile. (Wee, 10/2)
The Guardian: Donald Trump's Age And Weight May Cause Covid Complications, Doctors Say
Doctors have warned that the US president, Donald Trump, has numerous factors placing him at risk of complications from Covid-19, including his age and being overweight. ... Dr Barry Dixon, an intensive care physician at St Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne, said Trump’s risk would increase if he developed pneumonia, which is associated with a high Covid-19 mortality rate, especially in patients over 65 and those who have cardiovascular disease or conditions affecting blood vessels of the brain. (Davey, 10/2)
AP: Statement From Trump's Doctor On President's Virus Diagnosis
Text of a statement from Sean Conley, physician to the president: I release the following information with the permission of President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. This evening I received confirmation that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence. (10/2)
Get More News On Trump's Health: KHN's Morning Briefing rounds up many more stories, including who else could be exposed, what's next for the administration, the election impact and the global reaction.
