WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump’s 14-year-old son Barron contracted coronavirus but has since tested negative, First Lady Melania Trump revealed.
Melania said her “fear came true” when Barron tested positive for Covid-19.
But, she said, “luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms”.
Both the president and first lady also tested positive for coronavirus – as well as other White House staff – but have since recovered.
Later at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump said: “He [Barron] had it for such a short period of time.
“I don’t even think he knew he had it because they’re young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off.”
The president cited his son’s recovery as a reason why American schools should reopen as soon as possible, a move opposed by teachers’ unions who fear their members could be infected by students.
Opinion polls suggest Trump is trailing his Democratic White House challenger Joe Biden barely three weeks before the election.
Melania revealed Barron’s positive test result in an essay entitled “My Personal Experience with Covid-19”, published on the White House website.
In her statement, Melania also said the “most impactful part” of her recovery was “the opportunity to reflect on many things – family, friendships, my work, and staying true to who you are”.
Melania said she would be resuming her duties as soon as she could.
While Melania remained in the White House, Trump spent three days at Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after his own Covid-19 diagnosis. He received a number of different drug treatments, including dexamethasone, a steroid, antiviral treatment remdesivir and monoclonal antibody therapy.
He returned to the campaign trail on Monday, telling supporters he felt “powerful”.
The US has recorded more than 7.8 million coronavirus cases and 216,000 deaths, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University. — NNN-AGENCIES