# Trump and Melania test positive for COVID-19 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 2, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010 "2020-10-02T05:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 53
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1047 "2020-10-05T15:59:53Z")
She held a press conference yesterday without wearing a mask. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1048 "2020-10-05T15:59:57Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Not sure that is a valve. Might be some type of insignia. - [![](https://imgcdn.mckesson.com/CumulusWeb/Images/High_Res/1163387_front.jpg) ](https://imgcdn.mckesson.com/CumulusWeb/Images/High_Res/1163387_front.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1049 "2020-10-05T16:01:21Z")
My work told us not to come to the office with mask that utilized valves. WTF are the Secret Service doing wearing these? My work has better protocols than the Secret Service. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1050 "2020-10-05T16:04:29Z")
Trump is already infected. The agents are wearing these to protect themselves. In an ordinary workplace, the assumption is _you_ are infected and the n95 allows virii to escape. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1051 "2020-10-05T16:04:38Z")
As someone else explained, masks with valves protect the wearer from the air of an infected person but doesn’t protect others from your air. In the case of being a non-sick person riding in a closed vehicle with an already-sick person, it doesn’t matter that the non-sick person is wearing a valved mask. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1052 "2020-10-05T16:05:22Z")
That mask (8210V) does have a valve. [https://www.3m.com/3M/en\_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8210V-N95-80-EA-Case/?N=5002385+8709322+8711405+8720539+3294752926&preselect=8720542+8720774+8729340&rt=rud](https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8210V-N95-80-EA-Case/?N=5002385+8709322+8711405+8720539+3294752926&preselect=8720542+8720774+8729340&rt=rud) The “V” on the end indicates that it is the “valved” version of the 8210 mask. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1053 "2020-10-05T16:06:53Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Why is this outbreak spreading so much? There have been other infections of the WH staff or their family members, but they seemed pretty self-contained and died out quickly. Why did those outbreaks infect so few people while this one is spreading like a wildfire? My guess? Individual 1 being knowingly infected and shedding virus wandering about without a mask among people who likewise weren’t wearing masks in close quarters. Plus the first ring of infections from that also wandering around without masks among people who likewise weren’t wearing masks in close quarters. You can’t have one set of rules for the peons and another for the VIP’s during a pandemic because viruses don’t give a shit about human hierarchies. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1054 "2020-10-05T16:11:55Z")
Has anyone seen any discussion/mention of the fact that [Trump said he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/18/858335915/despite-fdas-caution-trump-says-he-is-taking-hydroxychloroquine-preventatively) in May? Why didn’t that protect him? (sarcasm) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1055 "2020-10-05T16:13:01Z")
The bigger question is why isn’t he taking it _now_. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1056 "2020-10-05T16:13:59Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > > [@Chingon](#): > > > > Get em while they’re hot: > > [#24 COIN IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HISTORIC MOMENTS SERIES, "PRESIDENT TRUMP DEFEATS COVID AND HIS FIRST TERM AS PRESIDENT", #24 COIN IN SERIES](https://www.whitehousegiftshop.com/product-p/trump-defeats-covid.htm) > > What happens if people order and Trump dies? I think we all know the answer Probably becomes even more collectable, due to the “Dewey beats Truman” effect. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1057 "2020-10-05T16:15:07Z")
White House COVID policy: Don’t mask, don’t tell. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1058 "2020-10-05T16:19:29Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Well, you can certainly imagine that the psychological pressure on a doctor in this position might lead to overtreatment, where under normal circumstances the prudent course of action would be to simply wait. We can imagine how the poor doctor feels having to work between Don Jr. on one side going “hydroxychloroquine! hit him hard with the hydroxy” and Ivanka on the other side going “No, hit him with the Kushner-branded remdesevir” and Melania going “hit him a few times and see if it helps.” Sure wouldn’t want that job. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1059 "2020-10-05T16:22:51Z")
For answers to questions like this one, I like to tap the estimable wisdom of “Animal House:” > And most recently of all, a “Roman Toga Party” was held from which we have received more than two dozen reports of individual acts of perversion SO profound and disgusting that decorum prohibits listing them here. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1060 "2020-10-05T16:45:15Z")
Because his doctors aren’t COMPLETE morons? Also, if it worked, he wouldn’t have gotten sick. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1061 "2020-10-05T16:48:03Z")
[Double finger-guns] Noice ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1062 "2020-10-05T17:15:12Z")
Can you imagine being the doctor in charge of Trump’s care if he should die? The amount of hate mail and death threats you’re going to get? The number of insane conspiracy theories you’re going to be at the center of? The way everyone in the world is suddenly going to know your name, as Fox News and OAN spend night after night dissecting everything you’ve ever done looking for “Deep State” connections? The toll that’s going to take on your family? I shudder to think of the pressure those doctors are feeling right now. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1063 "2020-10-05T17:19:54Z")
Ah - I’ll have to reread the article; I only saw the “helps more severe, not proven in milder” part. The first time I was ever given prednisone for an asthma flare, it was due to a viral infection, and I was similarly concerned over possibly suppressing my ability to fight the virus. It’s not clear to me whether that’s a significant concern - but it’s never caused me any harm. Speak strictly of asthma here, not COVID, about which I admit I know no more than any non-professional. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1064 "2020-10-05T17:44:00Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > The valves I have seen have generally been on the side of the mask, not directly in front of the mouth. Every valved N95, or other valved mask of that general type, I’ve seen before covid-19 had the valve on the front, just where it appears to be in that photo. I’ve only seen the side-valve version since covid, and wonder whether it’s an attempt to convince people that the valve’s OK because it doesn’t appear to be aimed directly at a person in front of the wearer (though as air comes out the sides of the valve, not the front, that would actually work the wrong way around; plus which, of course, other people may be to one side of the wearer, and/or the wearer may turn their head.) > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > In the case of being a non-sick person riding in a closed vehicle with an already-sick person, it doesn’t matter that the non-sick person is wearing a valved mask. There must be two theoretically non-sick people in there, however (somebody’s presumably driving, and the reports I’ve seen are all in the plural.) What if one of them was actually sick but the other one wasn’t? [edited to correct tense] ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1065 "2020-10-05T17:45:41Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > The bigger question is why isn’t he taking it _now_ . Maybe back when he was suggesting it and he kept saying “What have you got to lose”, what he meant was “What have YOU got to lose”, he wasn’t including himself in that question. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1066 "2020-10-05T17:48:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > n95 allows virii to escape [nit-pet-peeve] I think most people understand that the correct plural of virus is viruses but “viri” is commonly used, often in a sort of facetious way. But if you want to do that, it has to be “viri”, whereas “virii” is just plain wrong. In order to have that double-ii plural, the first “i” has to already be there (as in “radius” → “radii”). [/nit-pet-peeve] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=54)