Trump Hosts Hundreds at Maskless White House Event, Plans Super-Spreader Rallies in Hot Spots
Trump May Still Be Infectious as He Endangers Supporters
White House Has Still Not Provided Negative Test
It’s no surprise that months of Donald Trump’s dangerous attempts to downplay the virus and to undercut the experts culminated in a raging pandemic and a White House outbreak. What’s more surprising is that, after nearly 8 million Americans have become infected, 215,000 have died, and Donald Trump himself was hospitalized, nothing has changed.
The president this week returns to the campaign trail where he will host super-spreader rallies in coronavirus hot spots, even as he may still be infectious. The events will endanger Trump’s own supporters and undoubtedly cause the virus to spread even more, all in a desperate attempt to salvage plummeting re-election chances, no matter the cost.
Donald Trump Has Planned a Slate of Super-Spreader Rallies in Hot Spots as Cases Surge Across the Country
- President Trump’s October 4 Publicity Stunt Endangered Secret Service Agents While Trump Was Likely Still Infectious. “On [October 4], to the surprise of physicians all over the country, Trump left Walter Reed in an SUV operated by Secret Service members to wave to his supporters before returning to the hospital. When asked about the President’s decision to leave the hospital for a car ride, [Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University Esther] Choo said she believes that he was still infectious. According to her, the car ride sent a clear message about the virus to the public. ‘[He was] wearing a regular mask rather than a N95 mask, having people in close contact with him, …. that whole thing and his messaging about “this is not a big deal”,’ Choo said. ‘That all sends a signal to people about being casual about your likelihood of infecting other people.’” [Yale Daily News, 10/12/20]
- On October 10, President Trump Hosted Hundreds Of People On The White House Lawn, Despite The Possibility That He Is Still Infectious. “In a memo released Saturday night by the White House, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley said Trump met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation… Some medical experts had been skeptical that Trump could be declared free of the risk of transmitting the virus so early in the course of his illness. Just 10 days since an initial diagnosis of infection, there was no way to know for certain that someone was no longer contagious, they said. The memo followed Trump’s first public appearance since returning to the White House after being treated for the coronavirus at a military hospital. Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon on the South Lawn for a Trump address on his support for law enforcement from a White House balcony.” [Associated Press, 10/11/20]
[Associated Press, 10/11/20]
- On October 12, President Trump Plans To Host A Super-Spreader Rally In Florida, Which Just Lifted Coronavirus Safety Precautions “Trump, who announced Sunday, without providing evidence, that he has tested ‘totally negative’ after his bout with the virus, plans to hold his first rally since his diagnosis was publicly disclosed, in Florida, in what risks turning into yet another super spreader event… Trump’s Monday rally and subsequent events this week in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Carolina will underscore both his increasing concern about his own prospects, as time to rescue his presidency runs out, and how his own infection with Covid-19 has done nothing to convince him to adopt a more responsible attitude toward the pandemic.” [CNN, 10/12/20]
- Infectious Disease Specialist Mike Osterholm Warned That Florida Could Soon Be Like A “House On Fire.” “[Trump] heads to Florida after University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist Mike Osterholm warned Friday on CNN that the Sunshine State could soon be like a ‘house on fire’ after dropping most precautions needed to quell the spread of the virus. The state added 5,000 new cases over the weekend. Trump’s rallies are habitually packed and feature little mask-wearing in violation of his own government’s guidelines. At least nine people who attended a Trump rally in Minnesota last month have tested positive.” [CNN, 10/12/20]
- Infectious Disease Specialist Mike Osterholm Warned That Florida Could Soon Be Like A “House On Fire.” “[Trump] heads to Florida after University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist Mike Osterholm warned Friday on CNN that the Sunshine State could soon be like a ‘house on fire’ after dropping most precautions needed to quell the spread of the virus. The state added 5,000 new cases over the weekend. Trump’s rallies are habitually packed and feature little mask-wearing in violation of his own government’s guidelines. At least nine people who attended a Trump rally in Minnesota last month have tested positive.” [CNN, 10/12/20]
- President Trump Will Hold A Rally In Johnston, Pennsylvania On October 13. “President Donald Trump is making a stop in Pennsylvania after questions about whether he would make the trip to the battleground state. According to his campaign’s website, he will be speaking at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnston, Pa.” [WKBN, 10/10/20]
- Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Cases Are Rising Faster Than They Have “In Months.” “Now case counts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are growing faster than they have in months, matching national trends toward a long-feared resurgence.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/12/20]
- Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Cases Are Rising Faster Than They Have “In Months.” “Now case counts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are growing faster than they have in months, matching national trends toward a long-feared resurgence.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/12/20]
- President Trump This Week Plans To Host A Rally In Iowa, Where Cases Are Surging; The Mayor Of Des Moines Is “Absolutely” Concerned That The Event Will Contribute To A Rise In Infections. “The mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, said he is worried that President Trump’s campaign rally in Des Moines this week could be responsible for spreading COVID-19 in the city. Asked by the Des Moines Register whether he is concerned that the event could accelerate the spread of COVID-19 in Des Moines, Mayor Frank Cownie (D) said he ‘absolutely. Was… Des Moines has seen its rate of new COVID-19 cases rise in recent weeks, and on Saturday reported just over 1,000 new cases.” [The Hill, 10/11/20]
- President Trump Plans To Host A Rally In Greenville, North Carolina On October 15. “President Donald Trump will visit Eastern North Carolina on Thursday, less than two weeks after he was hospitalized with COVID-19. Trump’s campaign announced that he will visit Greenville, hosting a rally at Pitt-Greenville Airport beginning at 1 p.m.” [Raleigh News & Observer, 10/11/20]
- Meanwhile, Cases And Hospitalizations In North Carolina Are Rising. “The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is keeping a close eye on North Carolina’s coronavirus trends after the state reports the highest jump in new positive cases since July 18. On [October 8], there were more than 2,400 new COVID-19 cases. That’s also the third-highest increase for the state since the pandemic started… Hospitalizations in North Carolina also saw a steady rise over the past several days as well.” [WCNC, 10/8/20]
Even as Experts Agree That President Trump Might Still Be Infectious
- Eric Feigl-Ding, Epidemiologist And Health Economist: “To Be Clear — We Epidemiologists Think Trump Is Likely Still Infectious.” “To be clear—We epidemiologists think Trump is likely still infectious because CDC states infectiousness is ~20 days if severe #COVID19, 10 days if mild. Given Trump got dexamethasone—which WHO&CDC say is only for severe/critical cases, Trump falls in the 20 days infectious group.” [Twitter, @DrEricDing, 10/10/20]
- Trump Used Dexamethasone, Which “Likely Extends Infectiousness Duration.” “[H]ere was earlier explanation why we think Trump still infectious. Including the fact that using dexamethasone (a corticosteroid) likely extends infectiousness duration by suppressing immune system.” [Twitter, @DrEricDing, 10/11/20]
- President Trump Could Be Contagious For Up To 20 Days After Testing Positive For The Virus. “Doctors have also found that some people stay contagious longer than the CDC threshold of 10 days. ‘If patients have had more severe or critical illness and traditionally those are the patients that end up in the hospital or require oxygen. We know that the sicker patients can be contagious for longer,’ explained Mercy Hospital South Chief Medical Officer Dr. Aamina Akhtar. Dr. Akhtar and Dr. [Steven] Lawrence told 5 On Your Side patients in the ‘severe or critical’ subgroup should isolate for 20 days after the onset of their symptoms. President Trump announced last Friday he had COVID-19 and was hospitalized the same day. The debate is next Thursday, which is beyond the standard 10 day waiting period. The President’s case could be considered severe and thus doctors say 20 days would be a safer time to isolate.” [KREM, 10/8/20]
- President Trump’s Doctors Have Not Explicitly Stated That He Has Tested Negative For The Virus. “‘[Trump] is no longer considered a transmission risk to others,’ Dr. [Sean] Conley wrote. ‘…The assortment of advanced diagnostic tests obtained reveal there is no longer evidence of actively replicating virus. In addition, sequential testing throughout his illness has demonstrated decreasing viral loads that correlate with increasing cycle threshold times, as well as decreasing and now undetectable subgenomic mRNA.’ Several experts expressed skepticism at the wording describing Mr. Trump’s diagnostic tests, which did not explicitly categorize the president as ‘negative’ for the coronavirus. P.C.R., a laboratory technique that detects the virus’s genetic material, can give researchers a rough sense of how much virus remains within a person’s body, or the viral load. Dr. Conley’s note suggested Mr. Trump’s viral load was dropping, but appeared to still be detectable.” [New York Times, 10/11/20]
- Albert Ko, Infectious-Disease Expert At The Yale School Of Public Health: “Most Physicians Would Want To Be Cautious Not Only About Protecting The President, But Protecting The People Around Him…. Why Risk It?” “People with severe cases are advised to isolate for up to 20 days, the CDC says. Trump was hospitalized, administered supplemental oxygen and treated with the steroid dexamethasone, a drug typically used for serious cases, said Albert Ko, an infectious-disease expert at the Yale School of Public Health. ‘I think the big question is whether the president had severe or he had mild, moderate disease,’ Ko said. ‘Regardless of what the rules are, I think most physicians would want to be cautious not only about protecting the president, but protecting the people around him. That’s usually our rules of practice. Why risk it?’” [Washington Post, 10/11/20]
Meanwhile, President Trump Continues to Undercut His Own Scientists — Including Dr. Fauci
- The Trump Campaign Took Remarks By Dr. Fauci Out Of Context To Help The President’s Floundering Re-Election Bid Without Fauci’s Consent. “Dr. Anthony Fauci did not consent to being featured in a new advertisement from the Trump campaign touting President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert told CNN his words were taken out of context. ‘In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate. The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials,’ Fauci said in a statement provided exclusively to CNN when asked if he agreed to be featured in the ad.” [CNN, 10/11/20]
- Trump’s Attempts To Use Fauci’s Words For Political Gain Come After Months Of Attacking Fauci. “Trump expressed frustration with Fauci as early as April, when he reposted a #FireFauci hashtag after the doctor said in a CNN appearance that shutting the country down earlier could have saved more lies. Since then, undermining Fauci has been a mainstay of Trump’s coronavirus strategy, from attempting to tank his credibility by trashing him in the media to shunting him aside over CDC testing guidelines—a decision the administration made when Fauci was undergoing surgery. Recently, Trump health officials reportedly tried to censor Fauci’s planned interview responses, including pressuring him not to promote mask-wearing by children because it would undercut Trump’s misleading claims.” [Vanity Fair, 10/12/20]
- ABC News’ Jon Karl Said The White House Blocked Fauci From Appearing On ABC To Discuss Rising Cases In The Administration And Across The Country. “The White House refused to allow Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert on the administration’s coronavirus task force, to appear on Sunday’s episode of ABC’s “This Week,” host Jon Karl said. Fauci had been willing to appear, but the White House wouldn’t sign off, Karl said in the show’s opening. ‘We had hoped to talk to Dr. Fauci about both the outbreak at the White House and across the country,’ Karl said. ‘He was more than willing to join us, but the White House wouldn’t allow you to hear from the nation’s leading expert on the coronavirus. ‘In fact, they wouldn’t allow any of the medical experts on the president’s own coronavirus task force to appear on this show,’ he added.” [Huffington Post, 10/11/20]