President Donald Trump will be hitting the campaign trail next week for the first time since being diagnosed with COVID-19.
“Will be in Sanford, Florida on Monday for a very BIG RALLY!” Trump said in a Twitter post.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1314673151406682117
Before heading to Florida, the president will be delivering remarks to his supporters at an outdoor event at the White House on Saturday, as IJR previously reported.
According to a White House official, Trump will address the crowd from a balcony on a “law and order” theme.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News, “He wants to talk to the American people, and he wants to be out there.”
In a memo released on Thursday, White House physician Sean Conley confirmed Trump completed his course of COVID-19 therapy, he has remained stable since returning from the Walter Reed medical facility, and could return to public engagements on Saturday.
“There are medical tests underway that will ensure that when the president is back out he will not be able to transmit the virus,” McEnany said.
She added, “He won’t be out there if he can transmit the virus.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises patients to avoid contact with others for 10 days after the onset of symptoms, as IJR previously reported.
If Trump was first symptomatic on Oct. 1., he should assume he is contagious through Saturday.
Out of concern the coronavirus would spread on the debate stage, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced on Thursday the second presidential debate scheduled for Oct. 15 would be virtual.
During a phone call interview on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” Thursday morning, Trump rejected the idea.
“I’m not going to do a virtual debate. I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate,” Trump said.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign said he would take voters’ questions during an ABC News town hall on the night the debate was originally supposed to take place.