Trump may face a ‘backlash’ by returning to work while still infected

U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday despite still being infected — a move analysts say could draw “backlash” and shows he doesn’t take the virus seriously. “The president’s campaign is going to be severely handicapped even if he’s back in the office for the next couple of weeks,” pointed out Mark Jolley, strategist at CCB International Securities. “He’s missing some key staff, and half of his staff inside his campaign is going to be quarantined.”

A growing number of officials in Trump’s administration have tested positive for the virus since the president announced he was infected last Friday. Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced that she had tested positive for Covid-19, as did two of her deputies. At least 18 people — who were either in the White House, or connected to Trump’s reelection campaign, or attended recent White House events — have tested positive since late last week when Trump announced he was infected.

Last Friday, Trump checked into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment after announcing he had contracted the coronavirus. Just three days later on Monday, he left the facility to return to the White House. The president remains infected with the virus. His treatment will continue at the White House, his doctors said. The White House assured Americans that it was “taking every precaution necessary” to protect the president, his family and staff.

Trump has been criticized by health experts for making a drive-by appearance in front of a group of his supporters outside the hospital over the weekend. Health professionals noted that the president, who is possibly still contagious, may have put Secret Service members who were in the car with him at risk.

Trump may face a ‘backlash’ by returning to work while still infected, CNBC, Oct 6