Trump heads to Walter Reed hospital out of ‘abundance of caution’

President Donald Trump, 74, is headed to Walter Reed hospital for the next few days as a “precautionary measure” after he and the first lady tested positive for Covid-19 late Thursday night.

Dr. Sean Conley, Trump’s physician, said earlier Friday in a memo released by the White House that the president was “fatigued but in good spirits” and had received an in infusion of “Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail.”

Regeneron is still in clinical-trial stage and has not been fully evaluated for safety, according to company’s website.

The White House had asserted that Trump would be attending to his duties from the presidential residence, though the hospital trip was suddenly announced later Friday afternoon. Aides maintain that he is doing fine.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Friday:

“Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the president will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days.”

The president announced in a tweet Thursday night just before 10 p.m. that he and the first lady had tested positive for the virus. He had announced less than three hours before that Hope Hicks, a close advisor, had also tested positive. Hicks has recently been in close proximity with Trump and those in his immediate orbit.

She traveled to and from Tuesday’s debate on Air Force One with the president, several Trump family members and other staff and campaign surrogates. Hicks was also with the Trump team during a campaign rally in Minnesota Wednesday.

Friday morning, officials for Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden, who was potentially exposed during on debate night, say both men and their wives had so far tested negative.

CNN is reporting two cases of pool reporters who have tested positive based on a White House Correspondents Association board communication. The memo reportedly says the notification was sent “so that you can make informed judgements.”

The president was seen walking to and boarding the Marin One helicopter for hospital transfer just before 3:30 p.m. Friday.