News of positive Covid-19 test results for President Trump, his wife Melania Trump, and his close aide Hope Hicks roiled news and social media in the early hours of Friday morning.
Medical experts quickly took to Twitter to chime in with their takes. Many said they weren’t shocked, given that the president has downplayed the virus and refused to wear a mask in public in the past. Some expressed misgivings about whether the president and those close to him relied too heavily on testing alone, without also using other risk prevention strategies — such as distancing and wearing masks — in tandem with frequent tests.
Others posed questions about how Trump will be treated, including whether he might be given access to experimental medicines that are still being tested against Covid-19.
Here, STAT has rounded up a range of those perspectives.
On the Trump administration’s internal approach to testing
Risk reduction is additive. Testing is one piece, just like masking, distancing, etc. Moreover, it’s a secondary form of prevention – not primary. All these prevention measures work together but need to be done concurrently.
— Dr. Saskia Popescu (@SaskiaPopescu) October 2, 2020
Reminder that testing #COVID19 negative today does not mean that those exposed to #POTUS/#FLOTUS/Hope Hicks are in the clear. @CDCgov guidelines are to quarantine for 14 days bkz testing is imperfect & infected individuals are most likely to test positive 5-8 days post-exposure.
— Dr. Anne Rimoin (@arimoin) October 2, 2020
Tests are not prophylactics. They alone cannot stop the test taker from getting infected. But can serve to stop onward spread from the tester. The goal is to sever enough transmission that R<<1/outbreaks die out.
To stop from getting infected, masks/social distancing are needed
— Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) October 2, 2020
On Trump’s quarantine and the potential for other exposures
Not picked up by tomorrow's early edition.
That'll undoubtedly be updated.With infectious phase that occurs days before symptoms develop, legitimate concern we could be seeing the beginning of a broader outbreak. Hopefully not. pic.twitter.com/1ItoTxyP1D
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 2, 2020
How about those who have been in contact with them? The answer: 14 days after last contact with person who has #COVID19.
— Carlos del Rio (@CarlosdelRio7) October 2, 2020
On treatments Trump might receive
With Covid evidence emerging daily for all to see, risk of harm from deviating from what has been proven true may well exceed the chance of benefit. In this case, I'm unconvinced that the odds for a VIP patient are any better than for the average pt who shows up in our ER. (2/2)
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) October 2, 2020
It is likely that the President will be offered remdesivir if he hasn’t already. It’s generally reserved for hospitalized patients but as an antiviral which may work to reduce viral load & disease progression & given that he is the president, would imagine they may offer earlier
— Dr. Nahid Bhadelia (@BhadeliaMD) October 2, 2020
On former vice president Joe Biden’s stance on masks and his risk of exposure
When you take the virus seriously and follow the precautions recommended by experts, you seriously reduce your risk of getting COVID.
I am so glad that the VP and Dr. Biden are well, and thank them for the example they are setting. #leadership https://t.co/O3jyqBp8ro
— Zeke Emanuel (@ZekeEmanuel) October 2, 2020
VP Biden will likely be retested as he is still within the incubation period. If he was exposed on Tuesday, not enough time has passed to necessarily progress to infection.
Fingers crossed he never does. My sincere good wishes for the continued good health of everyone exposed. https://t.co/LRuLMrc0Mi
— Dr. Nahid Bhadelia (@BhadeliaMD) October 2, 2020
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