Washington : U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden each said they are
looking forward to their second debate next week, but the issue of Trump’s coronavirus infection has
raised questions about health protocols for the event.
When asked about the safety of participating in the debate, Biden told reporters that he hopes “all the
protocols are followed,” and that “if he still has COVID, we shouldn’t have a debate.”
Biden said he will be led by Cleveland Clinic guidelines and the advice of doctors.
“I am looking forward to the debate on the evening of Thursday, October 15th in Miami,” said Trump on
Twitter. “It will be great!”
Trump first tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday and was hospitalized for 72 hours between
Friday evening and Monday. Based on that timeline, His attendance at the event, during which they are
to answer questions from voters, could pose a public health risk, based on guidelines from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which considers someone infected with the virus to be
contagious 10 to 20 days from the onset of symptoms.
The Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonprofit group sponsoring the debates, has not yet
commented on this matter.
Trump and Biden were about 4 meters apart on a debate stage?last?Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio.?The
CDC suggests at least?2 meters for social distancing purposes.
Trump arrived back at the White House Monday evening. His personal physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said
in a statement Tuesday that the president had a “restful first night at home, and today, he reports no
symptoms.”
The White House is “taking every precaution necessary” to protect not just Trump and first lady Melania
Trump, who also tested positive for the coronavirus, but “every staff member working on the complex”
consistent with CDC guidelines and best practices, according to Judd Deere, a White House
spokesman.
“With the recent positive results of the President and First Lady, staff wear full PPE and continue to take
all necessary precautions, which include updated procedures to protect against cross contamination,”
according to a Tuesday White House statement.
Several White House officials and other staff are known to be currently infected with the virus, including
press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and presidential adviser Hope Hicks.
The?president has been taking a steroid, dexamethasone, which is typically not administered in mild or
moderate cases of the coronavirus, along with a five-day course of?remdesivir, an antiviral medication.??
Trump’s campaign?on?Friday put?a?hold?on?all previously announced events involving the president’s
participation.
Vice?President Mike?Pence is making campaign appearances this week, as well as facing off
Wednesday evening against?Sen. Kamala Harris of California, the Democraticvice-presidential nominee.
The coronavirus has killed 210,000 people in the United States and infected nearly 7.5 million across the
country, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
In a pair of late-night tweets, President Donald Trump, changed course on negotiating coronavirus relief
that he had earlier announced he was calling off until after the election.
“The House & Senate should IMMEDIATELY Approve 25 Billion Dollars for Airline Payroll Support,
& 135 Billion Dollars for Paycheck Protection Program for Small Business. Both of these will be fully
paid for with unused funds from the Cares Act. Have this money. I will sign now!” he posted shortly
before 10 p.m.
“If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people
IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy?” he posted about 20 minutes
later.
The late-night change came after a surprise announcement that he was calling off the talks with House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States,
money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars
and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their……request, and looking to the future
of our Country,” Trump tweeted earlier on Tuesday.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I
win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business. I
have asked…… @senatemajldr Mitch McConnell not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving
my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Our Economy is
doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment…..also coming back in
record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO
COME!” he said.
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were negotiating in recent days and indicated several
times that they were close to reaching a deal. They met at her office at the Capitol for 90 minutes last
week, followed by a series of phone calls later in the week. Pelosi and Mnuchin traded papers on
Monday but key differences still remained on liability insurance and funding for local and state
governments, according to a source familiar with the talks.
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke again by phone Tuesday afternoon just after the president called off
negotiations. Mnuchin, according to Pelosi’s office, confirmed that talks were off.
“The Secretary confirmed that the President has walked away from COVID talks. The Speaker
expressed her disappointment in the President’s decision to abandon the economic & health needs of the
American people,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said in a tweet.
