President Trump was not tested for the coronavirus after shaking hands and flying on Air Force One with Republican congressmen exposed to COVID-19.
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham says testing was not necessary because Trump is not showing symptoms and the lawmakers aren’t confirmed to be infected.
“The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms,” Grisham said. “President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him.”
Grisham added: “Per current CDC guidelines, medical professionals should base testing decisions on patient symptoms and exposure history.”
Trump shook hands on Friday with Georgia Rep. Doug Collins and shared an Air Force One Flight on Monday with Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz — both of whom are now under self-quarantine after learning Monday afternoon they interacted with an infected man at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference.
Trump’s incoming chief of staff Mark Meadows, a North Carolina congressman, also announced late Monday he would self-quarantine after interacting with the man, who tested positive in New Jersey after departing the convention that ended Feb. 29. It’s unclear what encounters Meadows had with Trump between the dates of CPAC and Monday.
The virus is believed to have an incubation period of up to 14 days. Globally, it has infected more than 100,000 people since December and killed more than 3,000. More than 600 people are infected in the US with large clusters in California, Washington state, Florida and New York.
The respiratory bug primarily kills older people, according to health officials. Trump is 73.
Two other elected Republicans — Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona — are under self-quarantine after meeting with the same man as the others at CPAC. A Democrat, Rep. Julia Brownley of California, also announced Monday she was exposed to the virus, but did not specify where.
On Tuesday, Trump will announce an economic stimulus plan including tax cuts after the Dow crashed 2,000 points on Monday.
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