On Friday afternoon, the White House announced that President Donald Trump will be hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and will stay there for “the next few days” as a precaution.
The breaking news came around 15 hours after Trump announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The White House described the decision as being out of an abundance of caution. They also said the decision was not the product of an urgent deterioration in Trump’s condition.
White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said there has not been a transfer of power to Vice President Mike Pence.
“The President is (still) in charge,” said Farah.
Trump’s aides planned his trip to Walter Reed this afternoon and he was due to be flown aboard Marine One. There is nothing unusual about the plans since it is routine for the president to travel to Walter Reed on the helicopter.
MSNBC’s Twitter account shared footage of Marine One landing on the lawn of the White House to transport the president.
Further Details of President Trump’s Hospital Stay
The president’s spokeswoman gave a statement on Friday to the press. She said Trump “remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day.”
“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,” explained press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. “President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady.”
Another official stated that Pence remains in good health and is working from his residence at the Naval Observatory.
Since Friday morning, Trump has run a fever. However, an official said the fever remains consistent with the White House’s outline of “mild symptoms.”
Friday afternoon, the president’s physician wrote in a memo that he “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,” wrote Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley.
Conley said Trump received a single eight gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail. Additionally, he said Trump has taken zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin.
Furthermore, Conley’s memo also mentioned first lady Melania Trump’s health. The memo says that she “remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the first family is well and have tested negative.”
President Trump announced in the early hours of Friday morning on Twitter that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19.
[H/T CNN]
