Joe Biden is being tested for Covid-19 more frequently as election day draws near
From CNN’s Sarah Mucha
Joe Biden is being tested for Covid-19 more frequently as election day draws near, a source familiar with his testing told CNN.
The former vice president is getting tested each time he travels, the source said.
In early September, deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield told reporters on a press call that Biden was being tested on a weekly basis, but that has picked up as his travel has increased.
Following news of President Trump’s positive Covid-19 diagnosis, Biden and his wife were tested and the results came back negative.
Trump received supplemental oxygen on Friday, source says
From CNN’s Jim Acosta
A source close to the White House said President Trump has received supplemental oxygen since his illness began.
Trump “definitely has had oxygen,” the source said. The source said it was Friday when that happened.
The President’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, told reporters earlier Saturday that Trump “is not on oxygen right now.”
When he was asked if the President received it at all, Conley would not directly answer just saying “He has not needed any this morning, today at all.” Asked if he had ever on been on supplemental oxygen as part of his Covid-19 treatment, Conley said “right now he is not,” adding “yesterday and today, he was not on oxygen.”
CNN has asked for clarification about that statement.
The New York Times first reported the oxygen development.
CNN reported Friday the President was having a hard time breathing.
Former FBI acting director will not testify next week because of Covid-19 spread
From CNN’s Evan Perez
Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe will not testify next week at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing after two members of the committee tested positive for Covid-19, according to a letter sent by McCabe’s attorney to Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the committee.
“Mr. McCabe is willing, able, and eager to testify in person about Crossfire Hurricane at any time in the future when it is safe to do so. But he is not willing to put his family’s health at risk to do so. For these reasons, we are unwilling to appear in person for the Oct. 6 hearing; and for reasons of fairness, we are unwilling to testify remotely. A fair and appropriate hearing of this kind – which is complex and contentious – simply cannot be conducted other than in person,” Michael Bromwich, McCabe’s attorney, said in the letter.
McCabe was set to testify on “Crossfire Hurricane,” the FBI’s investigation into President Trump’s potential campaign ties to Russia. That investigation was eventually taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller.
CNN reached out to Graham’s office for comment.
A lot has happened following Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis. Here’s what we know.
President Trump is currently at Walter Reed medical center after announcing that he had tested positive for Covid-19.
If you’re just reading in now, here’s a recap of the latest developments:
Trump’s condition:
- The President’s physician at Walter Reed medical center, Dr. Sean Conley, said this morning that Trump is “doing very well.”
- Conley did not provide a details about Trump’s fever saying, “I’d rather not give any specific numbers but he, but he did have a fever, Thursday into Friday, and since Friday morning, he’s had none.”
- A source familiar with the President’s health told the White House pool on background that “the President’s vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We are still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
- Col. Sean N. Dooley, MD, said that President Trump is not on oxygen this morning and is not having difficulty breathing or walking around. He added the medical team is watching closely for any evidence of complications from either the coronavirus illness or the therapies.
- Dooley also said the President’s cardiac, kidney and liver functions were all normal this morning and that he is in “good spirits.”
Other key figures:
- Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for coronavirus Saturday morning, an administration official confirmed.
- The President’s son, Donald Trump Jr., announced Saturday that he has tested negative for Covid-19.
Senators:
- Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, also tested positive for the virus but said he is asymptomatic and feels “fine.” Johnson said he got tested for Covid-19 as a precaution after hearing that Republican Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah, tested positive for the virus Friday morning.
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is seeking an agreement to push back Senate floor activity until Oct. 19.
Trump praises the staff at Walter Reed medical center
From CNN’s Jason Hoffman
President Trump praised the staff at Walter Reed medical center on Twitter this afternoon, calling them “AMAZING!!!”
Trump said he is feeling well thanks to their help. This is the President’s second tweet since he was admitted to Walter Reed on Friday after testing positive for Covid-19.
Read the tweet:
Trump is in good spirits, doctors say
From CNN’s Maggie Fox
President Trump is walking around even as he undergoes treatment for coronavirus at the Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, his doctors said Saturday.
“He’s in exceptionally good spirits and in fact, as we were completing our multidisciplinary rounds this morning, the quote he left us with was ‘I feel like I could walk out of here today,’ and that was a very encouraging comment from the President,” Dr. Sean Dooley, one the physicians taking care of Trump, told reporters.
Dooley added: “We are monitoring him very closely for any evidence of complications from either the coronavirus illness or the therapies that we are prescribing to make him better. We have monitored his cardiac function, his kidney function, his liver function — all of those are normal.”
Sen. Ron Johnson says he feels fine after testing positive for Covid-19
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, is asymptomatic and feels “fine” after testing positive for Covid-19, he said during a conference call with reporters Saturday afternoon.
Johnson announced on Saturday that he tested positive for Covid-19.
“I never developed any symptoms; I still have never developed any symptoms. I feel fine, I feel completely normal,” Johnson said on the call.
Johnson said he got tested for Covid-19 as a precaution after hearing that Republican Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah, tested positive for the virus Friday morning.
More details: Johnson believes he might have contracted coronavirus from his chief of staff who went on a hunting trip with family and later tested positive with “very mild symptoms.”
The senator self-quarantined for 14 days at that point and “had been tested twice for Covid, both tests came back negative.”
Johnson said he finished quarantine this week and since then he has been to Washington, DC, for meetings but has worn a mask and maintained social distancing.
Johnson said he’s been careful not to expose himself because he didn’t want to risk missing the confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
When asked if he is concerned the confirmation hearing would be delayed due to GOP members and senators testing positive for the virus Johnson responded: “I think we’re catching this early enough.”
4 congressmen who traveled on Air Force One this week all tested negative Friday
From CNN’s Nicky Robertson
All four House Members who flew on Air Force One with President Trump this week tested negative for coronavirus on Friday.
Here’s who was on the plane:
- Pete Stauber of Minnesota
- Jim Hagedorn of Minnesota
- Tom Emmer of Minnesota
- Jim Jordan of Ohio
Some background: Administration officials said Friday that Hicks began displaying symptoms on the flight back from the President’s Wednesday rally in Minnesota and was isolated in a separate cabin.
Hicks was seen deplaning Air Force One from a rear set of steps not typically used by the President.
“Social distancing is much easier on Air Force One than any commercial airliner,” said professor Yan Chen of Purdue University, a researcher who studies the airborne spread of coronavirus inside an airliner.
Chen said most passengers do not sit in cramped rows on board the multi-room, highly modified jet, “but complete isolation is very difficult.”
Source tells reporters: Next 48 hours will be critical for Trump
A source familiar with the President’s health told the White House pool on background that “the President’s vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We are still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
Just moments ago, Trump’s physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a news conference that “this morning the President is doing very well.”
CNN is seeking further clarification from the White House regarding the comment.
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was the only other White House official present when doctors came out of the building Saturday at Walter Reed ahead of the press conference.