Coronavirus: Trump to have test, but NOT due to contact

Donald Trump said Friday afternoon that he will finally be tested for coronavirus after claiming this week he didn’t see a point to getting checked.

‘I didn’t say I wasn’t going to be tested,’ he said when asked about his decision not to get checked even after coming into contact with those exposed to the virus.

When asked during a briefing at the White House Friday if he would be tested, the president responded: ‘Most likely, yeah. Not for that reason but because I think I will do it anyway.’

‘We are working out a schedule,’ he said, giving no clear timeline of when he will undergo the test.

Trump also defended his decision not to get tested for the virus before this point, claiming he hadn’t been to any high-risk areas.

‘I’m not coming back from some place,’ he said.

Coronavirus elbow greeting: Trump claimed that he isn’t getting tested because he came in contact with someone who has coronavirus. ‘Not for that reason but because I think I will do it anyway,’ he said

Trump held a press briefing in the Rose Garden Friday, where he declared a national state of emergency over coronavirus

Trump said earlier this week that he didn’t see a reason to get tested because he has no symptoms, but his own health experts claim those who have come in contact with individuals who test positive for coronavirus should seek testing themselves

The president went to India at the end of last month, and since then has engaged in a slew of campaign and presidential-related travel within the U.S.

But Trump insisted he does not feel any symptoms and claimed the White House doctor said he had no reason to be tested for coronavirus.

‘I don’t think it is a big deal,’ Trump said when asked by a reporter on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon if he would get tested. ‘I don’t feel any reason, I feel extremely good. I feel very good.’

The president was at the Capitol to meet with Republican senators and discuss an economic stimulus package to deal with the fallout from the outbreak.

‘But I guess it’s not a big deal to get tested,’ he continued. ‘It is something I would do, but again, I spoke to the White House doctor, terrific guy, talented guy. He said there is no reason to do with it. There is no symptoms, no anything.’

Trump also said during the press conference in the Rose Garden on Friday that he didn’t know Fabio Wajngarten, the Brazilian president’s press aide who tested positive for coronavirus and was photographed with the president Saturday night at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump, 73, argued that he takes many photos with people.

‘There was somebody that they say has it. I have no idea who he is. I take pictures and it lasts for literally seconds. I don’t know the gentleman that we are talking about,’ he said.

Trump shook hands with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night; Bolsonaro’s condition is claimed to be negative on a second test, after it was positive on a first one. One of his press aides, who also was photographed with Trump, tested positive for coronavirus

‘I have no idea he is. I haven’t seen the picture. I take sometimes hundreds of pictures a day. That night I was taking hundreds of pictures,’ he said of the night at his resort in Florida. ‘I just don’t know. I did sit with the president for probably two hours. But he has tested negative, so that’s good.’

Trump is among those who could be more vulnerable to coronavirus due to his age.

The president’s comments contradict his own health experts, who claim those over 60 should be extra precautious not to contract the disease considering they are at higher risk – and insist those who have come in contact with individuals who test positive should be tested themselves. 

During Friday’s press conference, Trump declared a national state of emergency as deaths from coronavirus in the U.S. surpassed 40 and there are nearly 2,000 confirmed cases.