Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have tested positive for coronavirus - everything we know so far

US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump at the first presidential debate (Getty Images)US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump at the first presidential debate (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump at the first presidential debate (Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus.

The pair are now in quarantine with the US election just weeks away.

Mr Trump confirmed the news on Twitter in the early hours of Friday, after close aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus.

He tweeted: “@FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Melania Trump meanwhile tweeted that both “are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements”.

Mr Trump's physician Sean Conley released a statement stating that the President and Frist Lady "are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence".

"Rest assured I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments."

No masks at the debate

The news comes just days after President Trump, 74, participated in the first presidential debate of the election campaign.

The First Lady, 50, and much of Mr Trump's family were in the audience in support with many, including sons Eric, Donald Jr. and daughters Ivanka and Tiffany, choosing not to wear protective face coverings.

It is unclear if anyone else in Mr Trump's family have received a positive diagnosis for Covid-19.

Mr Trump has played down the impact of coronavirus in recent weeks, just the other day saying "it affects virtually nobody" except the elderly and the vulnerable.

Mr Trump has also typically ignored official advice on the use of face coverings.

It is not clear how the remainder of the campaign will be impacted by the shocking news, with a second debate scheduled to take place on October 15.

Mr Biden has yet to react to the news, though his last tweet from Thursday night condemns the presdient's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

He tweeted: "Donald Trump will do everything he can to distract from the fact that because of his failed COVID-19 response: - Over 200,000 Americans have died - 26 million are on unemployment - 1 in 6 small businesses risk permanent closure

"We can’t let him."

Cases in America

The United States continues to record tens of thousands of cases everyday, with 43,981 recorded on October 1.

The number of deaths registered on the same day was 861, with 1,017 recorded a day earlier.

Thus far 7.3 million positive cases have been recorded, with 208,000 deaths relating to coronavirus also confirmed.