WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump moved to a military hospital for treatment after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Roughly 17 hours after he announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus, Trump walked slowly from the White House to a waiting helicopter to be taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
He wore a mask and business suit and did not speak to reporters. “I think I’m doing very well, but we’re going to make sure that things work out,” Trump said in a brief video posted to Twitter.
Trump will work in a special hospital suite for the next few days as a precautionary measure, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.
Trump has a mild fever, a source familiar with the matter told a news agency. White House doctor Sean P. Conley said he is being treated with an experimental drug cocktail and is “fatigued but in good spirits.”
It was the latest setback for the Republican president, who is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of the 3rd November presidential election.
Trump, who has played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic from the outset, wrote on Twitter earlier on Friday that he and his wife Melania were going into quarantine after testing positive for the virus.
A number of other prominent Republicans also tested positive, including former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and Republican senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis.
READ MORE: US President Trump, wife test positive for COVID-19
Vice President Mike Pence, who would take over presidential duties if Trump became severely ill, tested negative. The former Indiana governor is working from his own residence several miles from the White House.
Trump is at high risk because of his age and weight. He has remained in apparent good health during his time in office but is not known to exercise regularly or to follow a healthy diet.
Conley said Trump has received an experimental treatment, Regeneron’s REGN-COV2. The drug is one of several experimental COVID-19 drugs known as monoclonal antibodies, which are used for treating a wide range of illnesses.
Trump is also taking zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin. Stocks on Wall Street closed lower as news of Trump’s diagnosis added to mounting uncertainties surrounding the election.
The president’s illness upended his re-election campaign with just 31 days to go until Election Day. The campaign said it would postpone rallies and other events where he was scheduled to appear or take them online.
The Republican National Committee would choose a replacement nominee if Trump were to become incapacitated but it is already too late in most states to change the names on the ballot.
Pence took over Trump’s planned calls with governors and retirees’ organizations. His debate with Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris on 7th October will go forward as planned. Harris has also tested negative for the virus, according to the campaign.
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