President Trump said in a press conference on Saturday that he has taken a coronavirus test, adding that he is awaiting the results.
“I had my temperature taken coming into the room … I also took the test last night. And I decided I should based on the press conference last night,” Trump said.
The president said the test was sent to a lab and he doesn’t know when he will get the results back.
The move was a change from what White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo released late Friday, that Trump will not be tested for coronavirus, nor will he self-quarantine.
Questions arose after Trump and other White House staffers had interactions with at least three infected people from a Brazilian official delegation last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, and the president said he would “most likely” get tested.
But Dr. Conley said there’s no need for a test or a quarantine.
“The President’s exposure to the first individual was extremely limited (photograph, handshake), and though he spent more time in closer proximity to the second case, all interactions occurred before any symptom onset,” the doctor wrote in a note released by the White House.
“These interactions would be categorized as LOW risk for transmission per CDC guidelines, and as such, there is no indication for home quarantine at this time,” Dr. Conley added. “Additionally, given the President himself remains without symptoms, testing for COVID-19 is not currently indicated. I will closely monitor and care for the President, and will update you as more information becomes available.”
In a White House press conference on Friday, Trump was asked by CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang if he was being “selfish” by not being tested.
The president said people “should listen to their doctors. They shouldn’t be jumping to get the test unless it’s necessary, but I think they have to listen to their doctors.”
The reporter followed, saying: “But doctors are saying you might have it even if you don’t show symptoms. Are you being selfish by not getting tested?”
“I didn’t say I was not going to be tested,” Trump said.
“Are you going to be?” Jiang asked.
“Most likely. Not for that reason but I think I will anyway, fairly soon, we’re working out a schedule,” the president replied.
Earlier Friday, news broke that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for coronavirus. Bolsonaro visited Mar-a-Lago last weekend and met with Trump and his administration and family, and also had dinner together. He later tweeted out that his second test came back negative.
“The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation‘s visit to Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19; confirmatory testing is pending,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to the press. “Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.
“As stated before, the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy,” she added. “To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine.”
Also on Friday, Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, freeing up billions of federal dollars and resources to fight the outbreak.
This story has been revised to include the president’s announcement that he has taken a COVID-19 test.