Trump negative for virus
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has tested negative for the new coronavirus, according to the president’s personal physician.
The White House released the test results Saturday night after Mr. Trump told reporters hours earlier that he had taken the coronavirus test, following days of resisting being screened despite the fact he had been in recent contact with three people who have tested positive for the virus, including members of the Brazilian president’s delegation who visited with him at his Florida resort.
“One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, the President remains symptom-free,” Dr. Sean Conley, the president’s physician, wrote in a memo.
Mr. Trump told reporters at a White House briefing Saturday that he had his temperature taken and it was “totally normal,” shortly before stepping into the room to discuss the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus.
Mr. Trump, after days of insisting he was not exhibiting symptoms of the virus, relented after being pressed by reporters about his resistance to testing when multiple lawmakers and countless citizens across the country who have had the same degree of exposure have not only tried to get tested, but also chosen to try to avoid potentially infecting others.
The president, according to two people close to the White House, had been reluctant to take the test for fear it would project weakness or worry. Mr. Trump has wanted to appear in full control during the crisis.
Earlier Saturday, Mr. Trump announced that the U.S. will expand its European travel restrictions to include Britain and Ireland as the U.S., armed with new tools against the pandemic, braced for it to get worse before it gets better. The government’s top infection expert warned that COVID-19 may surge within the nation in coming days.
Under the restrictions on European travel, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders.
“If you don’t have to travel, I wouldn’t do it,” Mr. Trump said.
The House approved legislation early Saturday to provide direct relief to Americans suffering physically, financially and emotionally from the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate still must vote on the package. Mr. Trump supports it. As well, he declared a national emergency Friday, unleashing as much as $50 billion for state and local governments to respond to the crisis.
There was little hope of a quick turnaround.
“We will see more cases and we will see more suffering and death,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, “particularly among the vulnerables.” Yet, he said, “we still have opportunities” to lessen the severity of the pandemic. The U.S. has recorded at least 59 deaths and more than 2,100 confirmed infections.
For most people, COVID19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to be over it.
The new travel restrictions come as Britain has seen its death toll from the virus nearly double from the day before to 21, and the number of people infected rise to over 1,100 from about 800 the previous day. Ireland had 90 confirmed cases and one death by Friday.
The U.S. said earlier in the week a 30-day restriction on flights covered only the 26-nation Schengen area, the European Union’s borderfree travel zone, which excludes Britain and Ireland. Vice President Mike Pence said the restrictions on Britain and Ireland would go into effect midnight on Monday night.
Mr. Pence added that federal officials were “considering a broad range of measures” for potential domestic travel restrictions but that no decisions have been made.
But a senior homeland security official, in a briefing held on condition that the official not be identified, said “there’s no expectation of any domestic travel restrictions at this time” by air or rail.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell canceled the coming week’s planned recess to deal with the matter. Senate Democrats called on Mr. McConnell, who let senators leave town for the weekend, to reconvene now and pass the aid package.
“Everyone is going to have new ideas, but that will slow things down,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat. “We have to act immediately.” With the president’s backing and robust Republican support from the House vote, passage appears likely.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced on Friday that he will extend his self-quarantine until March 17 after he had “a second interaction” with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus.
Also Saturday, Georgia’s March 24 presidential primaries will be postponed until May because of fears over the new coronavirus, state election officials announced, one day after Louisiana also pushed back its primaries.