# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1107 "2020-10-05T23:55:17Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I expect they’ve set up a hospital suite in the white house. he can have 24/7 nursing care, oxygen, IV fluids, all delivered to his home. Most importantly, at the White House, those whose fortunes (and ability to stay out of prison) depend upon Trump staying President, will be able to control the messaging about said Bernie/Trump. Whereas at Walter Reed, there would always be the chance that some of the medical personnel would actually tell the truth about what was going on. If Trump is flying high on the steroids, that condition might last long enough for him to do a rally or two (spreading infection all the while). But there will be an inevitable crash. In the ‘balcony scene’ that took place last hour, Trump was visibly catching some breaths through his mouth. There may well be respiratory issues, even with all the medication he was put on to make the Triumphant Return to the White House look, well, triumphant. It seems likely that Trump’s condition will deteriorate. But at the White House, the adult kids will be able to keep that information from voters for a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1108 "2020-10-06T00:19:00Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …you missed the **and**. Its ten days after symptoms first appeared **and** 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications **and** other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. > > They can’t know in advance if they are going to have 24 hours with no fever and they can’t know in advance if the other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. I agree with you here but I was just pointing out that if they remain asymptomatic, the quarantine is for 10 days for those who test positive, 14 days for those who test negative.Trust me, I have written many many return to work letters for my patients. **If you continue to have no symptoms, you can be with others after 10 days have passed since you had a positive viral test for COVID-19.** ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1109 "2020-10-06T00:19:27Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > That said, I am most worried about all of the administration officials who are not following the 14 day guidelines for those who test negative. Yes. It seems following the guidelines is the exception. > [@Jungian\_Camisole1](#): > > Is anyone taking bets on whether or not he’ll be back in the hospital by the weekend? Trump is king of dumb luck and may do just fine. But crumping within the week would not surprise. Early on my impression was that many seemed to improve several days in before getting much worse. Not sure how much that’s panned out. But I’d be quite surprised by the lack of clinical worsening by next week. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1110 "2020-10-06T00:22:16Z")
In my opinion, the steroids may be propping him up and he could crash hard when they wear off or stop working. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1111 "2020-10-06T00:26:51Z")
We should get Alec Baldwin in there to replace him. Could do worse. Already have. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1112 "2020-10-06T00:29:36Z")
that photo opp was ridiculous. you could see he was posturing like a mad fool. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1113 "2020-10-06T00:37:37Z")
I’ve not been on dexamethasone, but I have been on prednisone many times. It felt like I imagine amphetamines would feel: hyper, racing heart, insomnia, mood swings. I hate all those things, so I call it The Devil’s Drug. I predict many tweets tonight, as I doubt DJT will get much sleep. I suspect he’ll keep others awake, too: “I’m fine! I feel great! Nevernevernevernever felt this great! COVID makes you feel ALIVE! Sosososososososo alive! We should bottle this COVID stuff! Call it Trump Juice! Everyone wants Trump Juice!” ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1114 "2020-10-06T00:44:02Z")
he was acting like he pushed a foreign dignitary out of the way so he could get to pose at the front of the picture. what was the saluting about??! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1115 "2020-10-06T00:47:22Z")
I doubt it. That would absolutely be game over. I’m sure they’ve set up the White House with everything they could ever need in the past few days. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1116 "2020-10-06T00:47:46Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > what was the saluting about??! This says he saluted Marine One: > **[Trump COVID-19 live updates: Trump arrives at White House, removes mask and...](https://weisradio.com/2020/10/05/trump-covid-19-live-updates-trump-arrives-at-white-house-removes-mask-and-salutes/)** > > Tia Dufour/The White House via Getty ImagesBy JON HAWORTH and MATT ZARRELL, ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump's condition is continuing to improve as he fights a coronavirus infection, doctors say, and he may be able to leave Walter Reed... ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1117 "2020-10-06T00:58:26Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Why is this outbreak spreading so much? Because all of the people involved actively and adversarially reject common sense, useful safety practices. They’re Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1118 "2020-10-06T01:06:06Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I assume the other side of the coin says “COVID defeats Trump.” Thread prize hereby awarded to Thudlow Boink! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1119 "2020-10-06T01:07:18Z")
More VIP treatment that kills VIPs. Story goes (from someone I consider reliable for this) that Andy Warhol died in part because he was being cared for by a private nurse in a private portion of the hospital. When the code was called the team had no idea where that location was … maybe getting there in the usual rapid time wouldn’t have mattered but several extra minutes didn’t help. A regular patient would have had them there in an instant. If I get sick please save me from any special treatment. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1120 "2020-10-06T01:12:30Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > that photo opp was ridiculous. you could see he was posturing like a mad fool. That’s how he rolls. And, man, his supporters fawn over that shit more than any actual results he never delivers. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1121 "2020-10-06T01:13:50Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > I agree with you here but I was just pointing out that if they remain asymptomatic, the quarantine is for 10 days for those who test positive, 14 days for those who test negative.Trust me, I have written many many return to work letters for my patients. …well, no, what you actually said is that “Let me just say that in this case the Senators are correct.” But they can’t be correct. They can’t know **now** what the length of self-isolation will be. And the CDC guidelines are merely guidelines, and I don’t think they are best practice, and it certainly isn’t the way we do it down here. In New Zealand if you test positive for Covid-19 you are moved into managed isolation **along with anyone in your immediate bubble who may not have tested positive yet**. That’s a far cry from being able to mix with people after 10 days and you don’t need to take a test. There is a reason why the CDC protocols aren’t as robust. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1122 "2020-10-06T01:20:27Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I doubt it. That would absolutely be game over. I’m sure they’ve set up the White House with everything they could ever need in the past few days. If he crashes, I think they’ll take him to the hospital rather than just letting him choke to death in his own bed. But what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1123 "2020-10-06T01:22:07Z")
Or this is the palace coup’s beginning. Let him expire and make Pence the candidate. And probably lose, but that’s maybe already in the cards. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1124 "2020-10-06T01:27:17Z")
I know if I’m Joe Biden and I win, the first thing I do is have every window at the White House opened and rent a hotel room for about a month or so. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1125 "2020-10-06T01:53:02Z")
Even without all the virus around I think he’ll want to fumigate before moving in. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010/1126 "2020-10-06T02:04:54Z")
So, assuming Trump ever had Covid to begin with, and I don’t know what to believe right now, quite frankly… I assume he won’t be let into the next presidential debate on October 15 on the “honor system” like last time? What if they have to postpone because Trump isn’t cleared? What if he’s back in the hospital by that time? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-melania-test-positive-for-covid-19/922010.md?page=57)