October 2: Trump's Covid diagnosis

By Veronica Rocha, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 12:44 a.m. ET, October 3, 2020
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5:45 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Trump to head to Walter Reed medical center following Covid-19 diagnosis 

From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Brian Rokus

President Trump is headed to Walter Reed medical center, according to a White House pool report. 

Trump has had a fever since this morning, a person familiar with the matter says. The person said the fever remains consistent with the White House's earlier description of "mild symptoms."

This is in addition to new information released by the White House doctor, which described Trump as "fatigued."

Trump announced on Twitter he tested positive for coronavirus early Friday morning.

“President Trump remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said. "Trump will be headed to Walter Reed Medical Center shortly — Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”

Trump was also administered a dose of Regeneron, according to a memorandum from the President’s physician. “As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits. He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps,” the physician writes.

The memo also says first lady Melania Trump remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the first family are well and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 today. 

Hear Dr. Sanjay Gupta discuss:

4:59 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

President Trump and first lady's Covid-19 cases will be counted in Florida

From CNN's Devon M. Sayers

President Trump’s and first lady Melania Trump’s coronavirus infections will be counted in Florida, not Washington, DC, a DC government official told CNN.

Washington is not their permanent home; Florida is, the official said.

The District of Columbia "only includes its own residents within its case total," LaToya Foster, communications director for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, told CNN via email.  

The Florida Department of Health said it was "unable to comment on specific epidemiological investigations," but said cases are recorded according "to an individual's self-reported permanent residency." 

Trump and the first lady changed their permanent residence to Palm Beach, Florida, last year.   

“The White House physician will do their own contact tracing and provide guidance to impacted individuals as has been the practice throughout the pandemic," Foster said.   

 

4:49 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Federal officials will handle debate contact tracing, Ohio health department says  

From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers

The Ohio Department of Health told CNN that federal officials will handle contact tracing for those who may have been exposed to coronavirus at the first presidential debate in Cleveland this week.   

“Contact tracing is usually done at the local level; however, it is our understanding that federal officials are handling it in this case,” Melanie Amato, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Health, told CNN via email. “If Ohioans were at the debate or feel they were exposed in another setting, then we recommend that they get tested."

Earlier today: President Trump and the first lady have contracted Covid-19 following the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday.

4:48 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Joe Biden says he's had 2 Covid-19 tests since this morning

From CNN's Sarah Mucha

Joe Biden arrives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 2.
Joe Biden arrives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 2. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Joe Biden announced that he has received two Covid-19 tests this morning, according to remarks he made during a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, this afternoon.

Biden is delivering remarks at the UFCW local 951 on building back the economy for working families.

5:06 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Biden on Trump diagnosis: Bracing reminder to take coronavirus seriously

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event  on October 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event on October 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden sent his "prayers for the health and safety" of President Trump and the first lady while speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Biden said it is not a matter of politics, but a reminder of how serious the virus is.

"This is not a matter of politics. It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically," Biden said.

The former vice president said he has had two Covid-19 tests taken since this morning. Biden tested negative for coronavirus earlier today. He shared the debate stage with Trump during Tuesday's debate.

4:57 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

President Trump has had a fever since this morning

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Trump has had a fever since this morning, a person familiar with the matter says. The person said the fever remains consistent with the White House's earlier description of "mild symptoms."

This is in addition to new information released by the White House doctor, which described Trump as "fatigued."

Trump announced on Twitter he tested positive for coronavirus early Friday morning. 

5:13 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Trump has been administered experimental treatment as a "precautionary measure"

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. headquarters in Tarrytown, New York in 2015.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. headquarters in Tarrytown, New York in 2015. Kris Tripplaar/Sipa USA/AP

President Trump has been administered a dose of experimental Regeneron treatment, according to a memorandum from the President’s physician.

“As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits. He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps,” the physician writes.

The memo also says first lady Melania Trump remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the First Family are well and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 today.

Here's what the memo said:

"I release the following information with the Permission of President Donald J. Trump.
Following PCR-confirmation of the President’s diagnosis, as a precautionary measure he received a single 8 gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail. He completed the infusion without incident. In addition to the polyclonal antibodies, the President has been taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin.
As of this afternoon the President remains fatigued but in good spirits. He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps.
First Lady Melania Trump remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the First Family are well and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 today."

Regeneron is a biotechnology company whose Covid antibody drug is currently in phase 3 trials. You can read more about the trial here.

4:13 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

Nancy Pelosi tests negative for Covid-19

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press briefing on October 1 in Washington, DC.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press briefing on October 1 in Washington, DC. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested negative for Covid-19, her deputy chief of Staff Drew Hammill confirmed in a tweet.

Earlier Pelosi said she got tested out of "an abundance of caution" after meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this week to discuss a potential stimulus bill. Prior to their meeting, Mnuchin had met with President Trump, who has now tested positive for coronavirus, in the Oval Office.

Read the tweet below:

4:23 p.m. ET, October 2, 2020

President would be transferred to Walter Reed if critical care was needed, source says

From CNN's Nadia Kounang

A view of Walter Reed Medical Center on October 2 in Bethesda, Maryland.
A view of Walter Reed Medical Center on October 2 in Bethesda, Maryland. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Much of the President’s care for Covid-19 can be managed at the White House, a source familiar with the White House Medical Unit said.

However, if the President did require critical care – for example, if he required intubation or proning, where a patient is positioned on his stomach – he would likely then be moved to the presidential suite at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the source said.

The source also added the unit is responsible for contact tracing involving the first and second families, as well as cabinet officials and senior administration officials, all of which are overseen by the unit.