QN: Trump Tests Positive for COVID

On the morning of Oct 2, President Donald Trump announced he and his wife Melania had tested positive for COVID-19. Both Trumps are experiencing only minor symptoms. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both tested negative, as well as many of Trump's other family members.

We know from studies out of Johns Hopkins University that the virus can incubate in a person's body for days before they test positive. We also know this disease spreads even before symptoms appear. Hence, Trump may have spread the virus to others in the week preceding this positive test.

What's more, the New York Times reports that Biden's negative test result (or anyone's for that matter) is not definitive. These tests only work if viral particles are stuck onto the nasal swab, which is not a guarantee even if you have COVID. In other words, Biden and those around him will need to be tested repeatedly to ensure they do not have the virus.

Before the diagnosis, Trump was set to hold two campaign rallies in Wisconsin. These rallies violated his own task force's recommendations for public health. Further, cases in Wisconsin were already surging and public officials had warned of large gatherings, which the campaign ignored.

Unfortunately, this is unlikely to shift Trump's public rhetoric around the virus or masks. Depending on Trump's personal experience with the virus, we may see more downplaying from the White House.