Washington DC; 02 Oct 2020 (UMMN): US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump have tested coronavirus positive early Friday.
"Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!" Trump tweeted shortly before 1 a.m. Friday.
According to CNN, Trump was last seen in public on Thursday afternoon, returning to the White House after a fundraising trip to New Jersey.
74 years old and obese, Trump falls into the highest risk category for serious complications from the disease which has killed more than 200,000 Americans.
"Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any further developments," wrote the President's physician, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley.
White House issued a new schedule to reflect several canceled events on Friday, including a fundraiser in Washington and a campaign rally in Florida.
Trump has flouted experts' guidance on preventing the disease's spread and eschewed practices like social distancing and mask wearing. At Tuesday evening's presidential debate, the President mocked his rival, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, for frequently wearing a mask.
Trump has blatantly disregarded medical recommendations from his own coronavirus task force during the pandemic, proceeding with a busy schedule of packed campaign rallies. "The end of the pandemic is in sight," he said during pre-recorded remarks at the annual Al Smith dinner.
Stock market futures tumbled on news of Trump's infection, reported CNN.