Joe Biden has tested negative for the coronavirus. The Democratic presidential nominee and his wife were tested earlier today. Dr. Kevin O’Connor soon after released the negative results in a statement issued by the Biden campaign. Biden was on the debate stage with Trump for more than 90 minutes earlier in the week. “I’m happy to report that Jill and I have tested negative for COVID,” Biden tweeted “Thanks to everyone for your messages of concern. I hope this serves as a reminder — wear a mask, keep social distance, wash your hands.”
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery,” he added. “We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
Joe & Jill’s well-being aside, the second presidential debate — set for Thursday, 10.15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami — will almost certainly be cancelled. Unless, of course, Trump isn’t feeling too badly down the road and they want to do it on Zoom.
Trump is reportedly experiencing “mild” symptoms. Given the knee-jerk lying instinct of Trump and his handlers, it’s at least possible that he’s faring worse than they’re letting on.
NBC News excerpt: “The next five to 10 days will be critical for President Donald Trump after his positive test for Covid-19. Doctors warn the illness can suddenly worsen after several days of relatively mild symptoms. That’s particularly true for patients with two of the biggest risk factors for serious and even life-threatening complications of the disease: obesity and older age. Trump, who is 74 and has a body mass index of 30.5, qualifying him as obese, fits both criteria.
“I’m worried,” Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and an affiliate assistant professor at UW Medicine in Seattle, said Friday on NBC’s Today. “I’ve cared for several patients with that double whammy. If they become sick, if they are symptomatic, they can escalate quickly to needing ICU care.”