<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-learned-a-lot-about-covid-19-by-going-to-real-school-faces-criticism-for-joyride-332525">Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/162984-cnn.jpg?itok=ixK1y--G" />

The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijans-leader-demands-armenian-withdrawal-and-apology-332551">Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan's leader demands Armenian withdrawal and apology</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/05/163124-untitled-design-54.jpg?itok=9jj7d7Hd" />

Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia's withdrawal and apology for intensifying the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and bombing its second city of Ganja.Each side accused the other of targeting civilian areas, as the conflict widened a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over the ethnic-Armenian region.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/25-crore-indians-to-get-coronavirus-vaccine-by-july-2021-government-332535">25 crore Indians to get coronavirus vaccine by July, 2021: Government</a> 
 
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/29/157236-covid-vaccine.jpg?itok=fcLlLGRd" />

The Government of India hopes to receive up to 50 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine by July 2021 to inoculate about 25 crore people, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, as infections in the world’s second-worst affected country continue to surge. 
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Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’ The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space.

Trump ‘learned a lot’ about Covid-19 by going to ‘real school’; faces criticism for ‘joyride’ The trip drew criticism from US intelligence officers and medical proffessionals, who said it put others in the car at risk, exposing them to a coronavirus patient in an enclosed space. Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan's leader demands Armenian withdrawal and apology Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia's withdrawal and apology for intensifying the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and bombing its second city of Ganja.Each side accused the other of targeting civilian areas, as the conflict widened a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over the ethnic-Armenian region. 25 crore Indians to get coronavirus vaccine by July, 2021: Government The Government of India hopes to receive up to 50 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine by July 2021 to inoculate about 25 crore people, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, as infections in the world’s second-worst affected country continue to surge.

Morning news brief: Covid-19 vaccine, Trump's health progress and more

After US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, many questions have been raised about the information White House has been issuing about the health of America’s top leader.

The Trump administration initially said he had mild symptoms.

According to the New York Times, in a statement, the president’s physician said Trump, who is 74, was “well” but did not say whether he was experiencing symptoms. He said the president would stay isolated in the White House for now.

Since early days of the pandemic, Donald Trump has been downplaying the pandemic despite the strong global public health consensus.

He even mocked Democratic challenger Joe Biden for months for his cautious approach to the coronavirus.

And this is not the first time when an American President downplayed a pandemic.

In 1918 US President Woodrow Wilson downplayed the influenza pandemic that killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people worldwide—including some 675,000 Americans—in just 15 months. But Wilson’s White House largely ignored the global health crisis.

Some historians call Wilson the worst US president in terms of handling a disaster.

Later Wilson got violently sick by the disease and news of Wilson's illness was initially hidden from the public.

According to a report by the Washington Post, in private, the president acknowledged the threat posed by the virus, which struck a number of people in his inner circle, including his personal secretary, his oldest daughter and multiple Secret Service members. Even the White House sheep came down with the flu.

But Wilson never publicly acknowledged the disease wreaking havoc on the world.

Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday said that he was "feeling well" after being hospitalised following his positive diagnosis of coronavirus. He also thanked the "amazing" medical staff at Walter Reed hospital for their assistance.

(With inputs from agencies)

After US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, many questions have been raised about the information White House has been issuing about the health of America’s top leader.

After US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, many questions have been raised about the information White House has been issuing about the health of America’s top leader. The Trump administration initially said he had mild symptoms. According to the New York Times, in a statement, the president’s physician said Trump, who is 74, was “well” but did not say whether he was experiencing symptoms. He said the president would stay isolated in the White House for now. Since early days of the pandemic, Donald Trump has been downplaying the pandemic despite the strong global public health consensus. He even mocked Democratic challenger Joe Biden for months for his cautious approach to the coronavirus. And this is not the first time when an American President downplayed a pandemic. In 1918 US President Woodrow Wilson downplayed the influenza pandemic that killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people worldwide—including some 675,000 Americans—in just 15 months. But Wilson’s White House largely ignored the global health crisis. Some historians call Wilson the worst US president in terms of handling a disaster. Later Wilson got violently sick by the disease and news of Wilson's illness was initially hidden from the public. According to a report by the Washington Post, in private, the president acknowledged the threat posed by the virus, which struck a number of people in his inner circle, including his personal secretary, his oldest daughter and multiple Secret Service members. Even the White House sheep came down with the flu. But Wilson never publicly acknowledged the disease wreaking havoc on the world. Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday said that he was "feeling well" after being hospitalised following his positive diagnosis of coronavirus. He also thanked the "amazing" medical staff at Walter Reed hospital for their assistance. (With inputs from agencies)

Woodrow Wilson and Donald Trump: Two Presidents, two pandemics and two lies

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus.

The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today."

The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm.

Conflicting official updates since Trump's hospitalisation on Friday have created confusion over his health, but his chief of staff said the 74-year-old's condition had improved overnight, raising hopes he could be discharged during the day.

Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis has upended the White House race less than a month from polling day -- and cast a harsh spotlight on the president's much criticised management of the pandemic which has claimed voer 200,000 American lives.

Eager to portray himself as in charge despite his sickness, Trump sent 15 block-capital tweets in 30 minutes, appealing to voters by claiming a record of successes in his first term including tax cuts and stock market highs, and protecting gun rights and religious liberties.

The tweetstorm came after the president sparked an angry backlash with a protocol-breaking visit to supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated.

He was masked as he waved from inside his bulletproof vehicle during the short trip outside Walter Reed military medical center near Washington on Sunday evening.

Trump, who has been repeatedly rebuked for flouting public health advice and spreading misinformation on the pandemic, said in a video on Twitter just before his outing that he had "learned a lot about Covid" by undergoing treatment.

But experts complained he had broken his own government's guidelines requiring patients to isolate while they are in treatment and still shedding virus -- and had also endangered his Secret Service protection.

The president was flown to Walter Reed with a high fever on Friday after a "rapid progression" of his illness, with his oxygen levels dropping worryingly low, White House doctor Sean Conley said in a Sunday briefing.

Conley admitted that he had kept from the public the fact that the president had been given extra oxygen, in a bid to reflect an "upbeat attitude."

He had given a rosy account of Trump's progress Saturday, only for chief of staff Meadows to tell reporters immediately after that Trump's condition had been "very concerning" and that he was "still not on a clear path to a full recovery."

Facing an uphill campaign ahead of the November 3 vote against Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump's diagnosis and hospitalization have left him sidelined from what he loves -- campaigning in person.

Biden, who announced Sunday his latest negative test for the virus, will start the week with a trip Monday to key swing state Florida.

Recent polls give Biden a significant lead among registered voters.

Controversy has been mounting over the possibility that Trump might have exposed numerous others to Covid-19.&nbsp;

A timeline provided by his advisors and doctors suggested he met more than 30 donors on Thursday in Bedminster, New Jersey, even after learning that aide Hope Hicks had the virus -- and just hours before he announced his own positive test.

As well as Trump and Hicks, numerous White House insiders and at least three Republican senators have contracted Covid-19, along with First Lady Melania Trump, who has not experienced severe symptoms.

Public health experts have expressed alarm at the "White House cluster" that has been linked to the September 26 Rose Garden celebration of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court.

(with inputs from AFP)

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus. The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today.

Doctors will decide on Monday if United States President Donald Trump can be discharged from hospital following emergency treatment for the coronavirus. The chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that the "determination has not been made yet" but "doctors will make a decision on whether to discharge him later today." The president has, meanwhile, signalled his determination to return to the election campaign with an early morning tweetstorm. Conflicting official updates since Trump's hospitalisation on Friday have created confusion over his health, but his chief of staff said the 74-year-old's condition had improved overnight, raising hopes he could be discharged during the day. Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis has upended the White House race less than a month from polling day -- and cast a harsh spotlight on the president's much criticised management of the pandemic which has claimed voer 200,000 American lives. Eager to portray himself as in charge despite his sickness, Trump sent 15 block-capital tweets in 30 minutes, appealing to voters by claiming a record of successes in his first term including tax cuts and stock market highs, and protecting gun rights and religious liberties. The tweetstorm came after the president sparked an angry backlash with a protocol-breaking visit to supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated. He was masked as he waved from inside his bulletproof vehicle during the short trip outside Walter Reed military medical center near Washington on Sunday evening. Trump, who has been repeatedly rebuked for flouting public health advice and spreading misinformation on the pandemic, said in a video on Twitter just before his outing that he had "learned a lot about Covid" by undergoing treatment. But experts complained he had broken his own government's guidelines requiring patients to isolate while they are in treatment and still shedding virus -- and had also endangered his Secret Service protection. The president was flown to Walter Reed with a high fever on Friday after a "rapid progression" of his illness, with his oxygen levels dropping worryingly low, White House doctor Sean Conley said in a Sunday briefing. Conley admitted that he had kept from the public the fact that the president had been given extra oxygen, in a bid to reflect an "upbeat attitude." He had given a rosy account of Trump's progress Saturday, only for chief of staff Meadows to tell reporters immediately after that Trump's condition had been "very concerning" and that he was "still not on a clear path to a full recovery." Facing an uphill campaign ahead of the November 3 vote against Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump's diagnosis and hospitalization have left him sidelined from what he loves -- campaigning in person. Biden, who announced Sunday his latest negative test for the virus, will start the week with a trip Monday to key swing state Florida. Recent polls give Biden a significant lead among registered voters. Controversy has been mounting over the possibility that Trump might have exposed numerous others to Covid-19. A timeline provided by his advisors and doctors suggested he met more than 30 donors on Thursday in Bedminster, New Jersey, even after learning that aide Hope Hicks had the virus -- and just hours before he announced his own positive test. As well as Trump and Hicks, numerous White House insiders and at least three Republican senators have contracted Covid-19, along with First Lady Melania Trump, who has not experienced severe symptoms. Public health experts have expressed alarm at the "White House cluster" that has been linked to the September 26 Rose Garden celebration of conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court. (with inputs from AFP)

Doctors to decide on Trump hospital discharge 'later' on Monday: White House

On damaged wall in the Syrian city of Idlib, artist Aziz Asmar painted a colourful mural of U.S President Donald Trump arm-wrestling the coronavirus.

Syrian artist paints mural of Trump arm-wrestling the coronavirus

President Trump revealed early Friday morning that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the coronavirus.

WION analyses some of trump's meetings before virus test

Floyd’s killing, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately infected and killed black people, has exposed long-standing racial inequities in every aspect of American life

Why racism in rural America is far worse than mainland; Watch this report

US President Donald Trump sparked an angry backlash from the medical community Sunday with a protocol-breaking visit to his supporters outside the hospital

Has US President Donald Trump really learnt about the virus?

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center formerly known as the National Naval Medical Center is the choice of US President's hospital. Watch report.

Coronavirus Pandemic: 'Walter Reed' The US President's hospital

After US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, many questions have been raised about the information the White House has been issuing about the health of America’s top leader.

White House event hosted by President Donald Trump has also come under scrutiny after at least 7 of the guests in the event tested coronavirus positive.

WION analysis pictures that show how rules were flouted in Trump's WH event

US Presidential nominee Joe Biden has said that he doesn't want to attack Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump now as both are now fighting the coronavirus. The medical team has confirmed that Trump was given oxygen on Friday and there are chances that he can be discharged by Monday.

Trump's Health Update: Discharge possible Monday, was given oxygen on Friday

At least seven people who attended an event at the White House last week have tested positive for Coronavirus. Watch the report to know more.

White House event under scrutiny after COVID-19 outbreak

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will cut short his trip to Asia this week, a department spokeswoman said Saturday, visiting Japan but skipping planned stops to South Korea and Mongolia.

The schedule change comes as President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> is hospitalised near Washington after testing positive for COVID-19.

The US top diplomat will be in Tokyo from Sunday to Tuesday, spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, where he will meet with foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woods-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342">Also read| Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor</a>

"Secretary Pompeo expects to be traveling to Asia again in October and will work to reschedule visits on that trip, that is now just a few weeks off," she said, without mentioning Trump's illness.

However, Pompeo touched on the topic Friday after reporters asked if Trump's health will change his schedule.

"We're still planning on making the trips, but we're going to take a look at them," he responded. "We'll see which one -- see which or some parts of those trips make sense and which may not, and we'll continue to on an hour-by-hour basis take a look at it."

Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday and stop in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday, to meet with senior officials.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will cut short his trip to Asia this week, a department spokeswoman said Saturday, visiting Japan but skipping planned stops to South Korea and Mongolia.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will cut short his trip to Asia this week, a department spokeswoman said Saturday, visiting Japan but skipping planned stops to South Korea and Mongolia. The schedule change comes as President Donald Trump is hospitalised near Washington after testing positive for COVID-19. The US top diplomat will be in Tokyo from Sunday to Tuesday, spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, where he will meet with foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan. Also read| Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor "Secretary Pompeo expects to be traveling to Asia again in October and will work to reschedule visits on that trip, that is now just a few weeks off," she said, without mentioning Trump's illness. However, Pompeo touched on the topic Friday after reporters asked if Trump's health will change his schedule. "We're still planning on making the trips, but we're going to take a look at them," he responded. "We'll see which one -- see which or some parts of those trips make sense and which may not, and we'll continue to on an hour-by-hour basis take a look at it." Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday and stop in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday, to meet with senior officials.

Pompeo to cut short Asia visit amid Trump hospitalisation

The White House Chief of Staff&nbsp;Mark Meadows has cleared the controversies and rumours around the US&nbsp;President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>'s health.

Trump&nbsp;tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and ;after shifted to the military hospital Walter Reed Medical Center, which raised a lot of questions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-wont-trump-tell-americans-to-wear-masks-332370">Also read:&nbsp;Why won't Trump tell Americans to wear masks?</a>

However, his Chief of Staff on Saturday assured that the President is now doing very well.&nbsp;"He's made unbelievable improvements from yesterday morning, when I know a number of us, the doctor and I, were very concerned," Meadows said.

The statement had to be issued after a White House source was quoted by the local media stating that&nbsp;"the president's vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning."

This was in direct contradiction to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-still-have-to-make-america-great-again-trump-promises-to-return-soon-to-start-us-election-campaign-332338">Trump's&nbsp;video messages</a>, tweets and his doctor's reports — all of which claimed that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was doing "very well".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspicious-backpack-reported-near-trumps-hospital-332343">Also read:&nbsp;Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital</a>

Meadows cleared that the President's blood oxygen level had decreased earlier which had raised concern, but he is much better now.&nbsp;"Yesterday morning, we were real concerned... he had a fever and his blood oxygen level had dropped rapidly," he told a local news channel.

Talking about the rumours about&nbsp;the Vice-President taking over if&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;health gets worse, Meadows said&nbsp;"there was never a consideration and never even a risk of a transition of power."

He supported&nbsp;White House doctor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woods-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342">Sean Conley's nightly update</a> and said he was&nbsp;he was "very, very optimistic, based on the current results."

The White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has cleared the controversies and rumours around the US President Donald Trump's health. Trump tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and ;after shifted to the military hospital Walter Reed Medical Center, which raised a lot of questions.

The White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has cleared the controversies and rumours around the US President Donald Trump's health. Trump tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and ;after shifted to the military hospital Walter Reed Medical Center, which raised a lot of questions. Also read: Why won't Trump tell Americans to wear masks? However, his Chief of Staff on Saturday assured that the President is now doing very well. "He's made unbelievable improvements from yesterday morning, when I know a number of us, the doctor and I, were very concerned," Meadows said. The statement had to be issued after a White House source was quoted by the local media stating that "the president's vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning." This was in direct contradiction to Trump's video messages, tweets and his doctor's reports — all of which claimed that Trump was doing "very well". Also read: Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital Meadows cleared that the President's blood oxygen level had decreased earlier which had raised concern, but he is much better now. "Yesterday morning, we were real concerned... he had a fever and his blood oxygen level had dropped rapidly," he told a local news channel. Talking about the rumours about the Vice-President taking over if Trump's health gets worse, Meadows said "there was never a consideration and never even a risk of a transition of power." He supported White House doctor Sean Conley's nightly update and said he was he was "very, very optimistic, based on the current results."

Trump's Chief of Staff clarifies about his 'concerning' health

WASHINGTON — In the past six months, cloth face masks have emerged as the simplest, cheapest and most effective weapon that most ordinary Americans can wield against the coronavirus.

Public health officials had initially warned the public against using masks — they worried that people would buy up medical-grade masks, whose supplies were limited. But in April, officials began recommending cloth face masks — which could easily be made or purchased — and now the nation’s medical experts are all but twirling signboards while break dancing in chicken costumes to get you to mask up.

Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a Senate panel this month that face masks might offer greater protection against the virus than a vaccine. If just about every American wore a mask over a period of six to 12 weeks, he said, “We’d bring this pandemic under control” — repeating a claim he first made in July.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woohttps://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woods-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342ds-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342">Also read|&nbsp;Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor</a>

In the abstract, then, a federal plan aimed at getting all Americans to wear masks sounds like just the sort of magic fix for the virus that President Donald Trump has been fumbling for from the beginning. Yet the president has refused to impose a national mandate ordering people to wear masks indoors, nor has he proposed any other policy for achieving universal masking. Although he says he is for masks, he has frequently mocked them as wimpy accouterments of politically correct virtue signalers, and suggested that they pose many serious, though vague, dangers.

The contradictions have never been more stark than this past week. On Tuesday night, at the presidential debate, Trump first said, “I think masks are OK” and then mocked Joe Biden for his diligent mask wearing at events with other people. “He could be speaking 200 feet away from them, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.” On Friday, Trump revealed that he and the first lady have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Among Trump’s various missteps in combating the virus, it is his position on masks that puzzles and infuriates me most. Why hadn’t he pushed this one, simple tool to help fix the worst crisis of his presidency?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-positive-coronavirus-test-upends-campaign-in-final-stretch-332318">Also read|&nbsp;Trump’s positive coronavirus test upends campaign in final stretch</a>

I worked with my Times colleagues to analyze the president’s statements on masks over the course of the pandemic. We sought to track how Trump helped to transform masks from objects as culturally benign as hand sanitizer or latex gloves into a flash point in the culture wars.

What we’ve come up with is an illustration of a tremendous missed opportunity — a zigzagging map charting not just a profound dereliction of public health, but also one of basic political strategy.

The most striking feature of Trump’s stance on masks is that it was never consistent. Trump was for masks before he was against masks before he was for them before he was against them. His attitude could best be described as existing in a kind of quantum superposition that covers all possible positions at once.

When asked about masks by a voter at an ABC News Town Hall earlier this month, he began by noting that he sometimes wears masks, then criticized Biden (who is not the president) for not issuing a national mask mandate, pointed out that health officials reversed their policy on masks, and finished up with a detour about the problem of masks worn by careless waiters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-several-days-and-events-the-virus-swirled-around-trump-332306">Also read|&nbsp;Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump</a>

“The concept of a mask is good,” he concluded, “but it also does — you’re constantly touching it. You’re touching your face. You’re touching plates. There are people that don’t think masks are good.”

Trump’s random walk down the policy spectrum stands in stark contrast to other U.S. leaders and public health organizations.

Biden, for instance, has moved straightforwardly: He has gone from neutral to strongly in favor of masks.

U.S. health agencies, including the CDC, have followed the same path, going from advising in March that the general public did not need to wear masks, except for caregivers, to strongly recommending them by the summer. The World Health Organization moved much more slowly, but even that lethargic body now favors cloth masks for people who live in areas of widespread transmission, especially in settings where physical distancing is difficult.

When I look at Trump’s timeline on mask policy, I see only missed opportunity.

Early in April, when the CDC and many state health authorities began recommending that people wear masks, the public appeared broadly in favor. At the time, Trump had begun criticizing state lockdowns, but he hadn’t said much about masks, except that he probably wouldn’t wear one.

Then, at the end of April, the White House’s tone began to shift. Mike Pence was conspicuously maskless on a visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, apparently in violation of the hospital’s policy.

Mask resistors became violent; in Flint, Michigan, a Family Dollar security guard was shot and killed after telling a customer to put a mask on her child — the first of many shootings arising out of disputes about masks and other coronavirus restrictions. Trump could have tried to calm tensions. Instead he sniffed the shifting winds and leapt onto the anti-mask wagon.

His own masklessness seemed to become a point of pride. The White House instituted a mask requirement for all employees — except Trump. On a tour of a Ford factory, Trump wore a mask when he was out of view of cameras, but he took it off in public, explaining that he “didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.” He retweeted a post from a Fox News analyst that appeared to mock how Biden looked in a mask. And when a reporter declined to remove his mask when asking a question at a news conference, Trump called the man “politically correct.”

By late spring, masks had become an irredeemably partisan issue. The primary resistors were Republican men. In a poll conducted in May by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Democrats were almost twice as likely as Republicans to say they wore masks regularly. Only half of Republican men said they wore a mask most of the time they left the house; only 43% said Trump should wear a mask.

I can’t blame Trump alone for this particular descent into the salad spinner of polarization. Robert Kahn, a professor at the University of St. Thomas’s law school who has studied the legal and cultural attitudes toward masks, has written that it was probably inevitable that masks would come to be seen as costumes that signify personal qualities rather than as neutral objects, like umbrellas. Face masks, even more than clothing, alter our bodies and our communication in a way that can’t be hidden. They are symbols as much as tools, Kahn argues.

Still, once Trump staked out an anti-mask position, much of right-wing media took their cues from him. The mask became a fault line.

In The Federalist, David Marcus argued that masks symbolized weakness. If Trump wore a mask in public, it would signal that “the United States is so powerless against this invisible enemy sprung from China that even its president must cower behind a mask.” At Trump rallies, people reveled in their masklessness, telling reporters that masks were useless, that the coronavirus was not even a serious threat, and that mask rules were an attempt by “people in power who want to see what people will submit to,” as a Trump supporter in Kansas told the BBC.

People on the left attached their own meanings to masks. A common argument was that Trump’s reluctance to wear a mask was itself a sign of weakness — of “fragile masculinity,” as journalist Liz Plank put it.

A few Republican leaders tried to shake off all this symbolic weight. Wearing a mask “is not about politics,” said Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio. Doug Burgum, the Republican governor of North Dakota, called the mask debate “a senseless dividing line,” adding, “I would ask people to try to dial up your empathy and your understanding.”

But there was no going back. Masklessness had become part of the Trump lifestyle brand. If you want the full MAGA experience, you wear the hat but not the mask.

“I absolutely think Trump made a difference,” Kahn told me. If Trump had struck a more positive tone on masks — if he hadn’t always implied they were unmanly or undignified — there might still have been some resistance to wearing masks, Kahn said, “but it would have been much less controversial.”

Compared to other countries, mask usage in the United States is in the middle of the pack; we are better than Canada, Britain and Scandinavia, but worse than Germany, Italy, Mexico and much of Asia. Usage is rising — in a Pew survey taken in August, 85% of adults said they regularly wore a mask, compared to 65% in June. But that is still short of the threshold that officials have been aiming for — 95% or more. Even if it’s quite late, a full-throated Trump endorsement of masks could still make a difference.

Continuing on the same confused path would be indefensible.

WASHINGTON — In the past six months, cloth face masks have emerged as the simplest, cheapest and most effective weapon that most ordinary Americans can wield against the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON — In the past six months, cloth face masks have emerged as the simplest, cheapest and most effective weapon that most ordinary Americans can wield against the coronavirus. Public health officials had initially warned the public against using masks — they worried that people would buy up medical-grade masks, whose supplies were limited. But in April, officials began recommending cloth face masks — which could easily be made or purchased — and now the nation’s medical experts are all but twirling signboards while break dancing in chicken costumes to get you to mask up. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a Senate panel this month that face masks might offer greater protection against the virus than a vaccine. If just about every American wore a mask over a period of six to 12 weeks, he said, “We’d bring this pandemic under control” — repeating a claim he first made in July. Also read| Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor In the abstract, then, a federal plan aimed at getting all Americans to wear masks sounds like just the sort of magic fix for the virus that President Donald Trump has been fumbling for from the beginning. Yet the president has refused to impose a national mandate ordering people to wear masks indoors, nor has he proposed any other policy for achieving universal masking. Although he says he is for masks, he has frequently mocked them as wimpy accouterments of politically correct virtue signalers, and suggested that they pose many serious, though vague, dangers. The contradictions have never been more stark than this past week. On Tuesday night, at the presidential debate, Trump first said, “I think masks are OK” and then mocked Joe Biden for his diligent mask wearing at events with other people. “He could be speaking 200 feet away from them, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.” On Friday, Trump revealed that he and the first lady have tested positive for the coronavirus. Among Trump’s various missteps in combating the virus, it is his position on masks that puzzles and infuriates me most. Why hadn’t he pushed this one, simple tool to help fix the worst crisis of his presidency? Also read| Trump’s positive coronavirus test upends campaign in final stretch I worked with my Times colleagues to analyze the president’s statements on masks over the course of the pandemic. We sought to track how Trump helped to transform masks from objects as culturally benign as hand sanitizer or latex gloves into a flash point in the culture wars. What we’ve come up with is an illustration of a tremendous missed opportunity — a zigzagging map charting not just a profound dereliction of public health, but also one of basic political strategy. The most striking feature of Trump’s stance on masks is that it was never consistent. Trump was for masks before he was against masks before he was for them before he was against them. His attitude could best be described as existing in a kind of quantum superposition that covers all possible positions at once. When asked about masks by a voter at an ABC News Town Hall earlier this month, he began by noting that he sometimes wears masks, then criticized Biden (who is not the president) for not issuing a national mask mandate, pointed out that health officials reversed their policy on masks, and finished up with a detour about the problem of masks worn by careless waiters. Also read| Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump “The concept of a mask is good,” he concluded, “but it also does — you’re constantly touching it. You’re touching your face. You’re touching plates. There are people that don’t think masks are good.” Trump’s random walk down the policy spectrum stands in stark contrast to other U.S. leaders and public health organizations. Biden, for instance, has moved straightforwardly: He has gone from neutral to strongly in favor of masks. U.S. health agencies, including the CDC, have followed the same path, going from advising in March that the general public did not need to wear masks, except for caregivers, to strongly recommending them by the summer. The World Health Organization moved much more slowly, but even that lethargic body now favors cloth masks for people who live in areas of widespread transmission, especially in settings where physical distancing is difficult. When I look at Trump’s timeline on mask policy, I see only missed opportunity. Early in April, when the CDC and many state health authorities began recommending that people wear masks, the public appeared broadly in favor. At the time, Trump had begun criticizing state lockdowns, but he hadn’t said much about masks, except that he probably wouldn’t wear one. Then, at the end of April, the White House’s tone began to shift. Mike Pence was conspicuously maskless on a visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, apparently in violation of the hospital’s policy. Mask resistors became violent; in Flint, Michigan, a Family Dollar security guard was shot and killed after telling a customer to put a mask on her child — the first of many shootings arising out of disputes about masks and other coronavirus restrictions. Trump could have tried to calm tensions. Instead he sniffed the shifting winds and leapt onto the anti-mask wagon. His own masklessness seemed to become a point of pride. The White House instituted a mask requirement for all employees — except Trump. On a tour of a Ford factory, Trump wore a mask when he was out of view of cameras, but he took it off in public, explaining that he “didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.” He retweeted a post from a Fox News analyst that appeared to mock how Biden looked in a mask. And when a reporter declined to remove his mask when asking a question at a news conference, Trump called the man “politically correct.” By late spring, masks had become an irredeemably partisan issue. The primary resistors were Republican men. In a poll conducted in May by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Democrats were almost twice as likely as Republicans to say they wore masks regularly. Only half of Republican men said they wore a mask most of the time they left the house; only 43% said Trump should wear a mask. I can’t blame Trump alone for this particular descent into the salad spinner of polarization. Robert Kahn, a professor at the University of St. Thomas’s law school who has studied the legal and cultural attitudes toward masks, has written that it was probably inevitable that masks would come to be seen as costumes that signify personal qualities rather than as neutral objects, like umbrellas. Face masks, even more than clothing, alter our bodies and our communication in a way that can’t be hidden. They are symbols as much as tools, Kahn argues. Still, once Trump staked out an anti-mask position, much of right-wing media took their cues from him. The mask became a fault line. In The Federalist, David Marcus argued that masks symbolized weakness. If Trump wore a mask in public, it would signal that “the United States is so powerless against this invisible enemy sprung from China that even its president must cower behind a mask.” At Trump rallies, people reveled in their masklessness, telling reporters that masks were useless, that the coronavirus was not even a serious threat, and that mask rules were an attempt by “people in power who want to see what people will submit to,” as a Trump supporter in Kansas told the BBC. People on the left attached their own meanings to masks. A common argument was that Trump’s reluctance to wear a mask was itself a sign of weakness — of “fragile masculinity,” as journalist Liz Plank put it. A few Republican leaders tried to shake off all this symbolic weight. Wearing a mask “is not about politics,” said Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio. Doug Burgum, the Republican governor of North Dakota, called the mask debate “a senseless dividing line,” adding, “I would ask people to try to dial up your empathy and your understanding.” But there was no going back. Masklessness had become part of the Trump lifestyle brand. If you want the full MAGA experience, you wear the hat but not the mask. “I absolutely think Trump made a difference,” Kahn told me. If Trump had struck a more positive tone on masks — if he hadn’t always implied they were unmanly or undignified — there might still have been some resistance to wearing masks, Kahn said, “but it would have been much less controversial.” Compared to other countries, mask usage in the United States is in the middle of the pack; we are better than Canada, Britain and Scandinavia, but worse than Germany, Italy, Mexico and much of Asia. Usage is rising — in a Pew survey taken in August, 85% of adults said they regularly wore a mask, compared to 65% in June. But that is still short of the threshold that officials have been aiming for — 95% or more. Even if it’s quite late, a full-throated Trump endorsement of masks could still make a difference. Continuing on the same confused path would be indefensible.

Why won't Trump tell Americans to wear masks?

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Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt.

Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt...Read more Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of bombing another city, escalating conflict Ignoring appeals from Russia, the United States, France and the EU to call a ceasefire, Armenia and Azerbaijan have stepped up hostilities over the weekend, with an accompanying rise in aggressive rhetoric....Read more Belarus police use water cannon in Minsk amid anti-Lukashenko protests Reports said protesters were not just detained in capital Minsk but in other places as well including Vitebsk and Gomel... Read more Paris braces for maximum COVID-19 alert level amid rising cases The number of hospitalizations in the country has risen to a 10-week high of 6,590 with the total number of cases at 563,535 which is the second-highest in Western Europe... Read more Mecca reopens for limited 'umrah' pilgrimage A raft of precautions have been adopted to ward off any outbreaks during the umrah, according to state media...Read more Lawyer named as first Black woman to lead national party in Canada She succeeds Elizabeth May, who led the Greens for 13 years before stepping down at the end of 2019...Read more Reports emerge of ISI's involvement in car bomb explosion in Afghanistan's Nangarhar At least 15 people were killed and more than 30 wounded in a car bomb explosion near the district governor`s compound in Ghanikhil district in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Saturday afternoon...Read more Sri Lanka imposes indefinite curfew in 2 towns after detection of new COVID-19 cases Nearly 50 people from her workplace and the hospital have been sent for home quarantine after she was detected positive for COVID-19...Read more Nepal Prime Minister's advisers test positive for COVID-19 Oli has previously tested negative, but had yet to take a test after his associates tested positive...Read more India, Bangladesh conduct naval exercise in Bay of Bengal Indian Navy ships Kiltan, Khukri and Bangladesh Navy ships Abu Bakr, Prottoy & MPA undertook manoeuvres, surface drills, helo operations and seamanship evolutions...Read more

Top 10 world news: Trump talks of 'real test',  Mecca reopens, and more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspicious-backpack-reported-near-trumps-hospital-332343">Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/162954-donald-trump.jpg?itok=CPxTDHRQ" />

The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-living-in-shadow-of-nuclear-catastrophe-says-un-chief-calls-for-disarmament-332341">World living in 'shadow of nuclear catastrophe', says UN chief; calls for disarmament</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/10/02/111996-untitled-design-10.jpg?itok=7EBVopWu" />

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned on October 2 that the world is living “in the shadow of nuclear catastrophe" with tensions among nuclear powers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-yet-out-of-woods-completes-second-dose-of-remdesivir-doctor-332342">Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/10/03/163000-trump-coronavirus-final.jpg?itok=40CgsyAB" />

Conley has assured that Trump has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day.

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Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-west-asia-post-two-years-on-khashoggi-murder-unresolved-332335">The West Asia Post: Two years on, Khashoggi murder unresolved</a>

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Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm.

Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm. World living in 'shadow of nuclear catastrophe', says UN chief; calls for disarmament UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned on October 2 that the world is living “in the shadow of nuclear catastrophe" with tensions among nuclear powers. Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor Conley has assured that Trump has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day. Israel continues protesting against Netanyahu's coronavirus restrictions Israelis are continuing anti-lockdown protests and are opposing the way the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has handled the pandemic. The West Asia Post: Two years on, Khashoggi murder unresolved ×

Morning news brief: UN calls for disarmament, Trump's health progress and more

There is no clarity on Trump's condition in the hospital. Some media reports have said that Donald Trump was given oxygen and on the other hand doctors said that Trump is doing well.

Confusion around Trump's health: Trump was given oxygen, Media reports

An suspicious backpack was found abandoned on the road in front of the Walter Reed Medical Center where the&nbsp;US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is admitted for his treatment for coronavirus.

The incident was reported by the Montgomery County Department of Police on their official Twitter account.

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At approx. 7:55 pm, MCP responded to report of suspicious/abandoned backpack in road in front of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Investigation determined contents of backpack posed no threat (approx. 9:30 pm). <a href="https://t.co/lSJct1S6gG">https://t.co/lSJct1S6gG</a>
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcpnews/status/1312577832288243712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by&nbsp;9:30 pm.

After investigation, the police officials revealed that the backpack contents were thoroughly investigated but nothing suspicious was reported.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has issued a video message assuring everyone about the positive progress of his health since the diagnosis of&nbsp;coronavirus.

An suspicious backpack was found abandoned on the road in front of the Walter Reed Medical Center where the US President Donald Trump is admitted for his treatment for coronavirus.

An suspicious backpack was found abandoned on the road in front of the Walter Reed Medical Center where the US President Donald Trump is admitted for his treatment for coronavirus. The incident was reported by the Montgomery County Department of Police on their official Twitter account. At approx. 7:55 pm, MCP responded to report of suspicious/abandoned backpack in road in front of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Investigation determined contents of backpack posed no threat (approx. 9:30 pm). https://t.co/lSJct1S6gG — Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 4, 2020 × The police department reported that the incident was reported around 7:55 pm on Saturday night and the officials cleared the area by 9:30 pm. After investigation, the police officials revealed that the backpack contents were thoroughly investigated but nothing suspicious was reported. Meanwhile, Trump has issued a video message assuring everyone about the positive progress of his health since the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Suspicious backpack reported near Trump's hospital

Sean P. Conley, the doctor taking care of the US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, has issued another&nbsp;nightly updateof&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;recovery from the novel coronavirus.

He claims that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has made "substantial progress since diagnosis". Since completing 24 hours of being diagnosed, the President has also successfully the completed his second dose of Remdesivir, the antiviral drug being given to&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for his treatment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-still-have-to-make-america-great-again-trump-promises-to-return-soon-to-start-us-election-campaign-332338">Also read|&nbsp;'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign</a>

Conley has assured that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day.

Trump, after shifting to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, has been busy conducting his Presidential duties and is still working on his re-election campaign for the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US election</a>&nbsp;in which he is competing against&nbsp;Democratic rival&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

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Another nightly update from President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>’s physician: <a href="https://t.co/HuF8QxcWfG">pic.twitter.com/HuF8QxcWfG</a>
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1312560078717943809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Conley acknowledged that the President is "not yet out of woods" but his team is "cautiously optimistic" about progress of&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;health.

The President will be continuing with his official duties for theupcoming days, but Conley's team will be closely monitoring his vitals as the next few days will be very critical for the President's health.

Sean P. Conley, the doctor taking care of the US President Donald Trump, has issued another nightly updateof Trump's recovery from the novel coronavirus. He claims that Trump has made "substantial progress since diagnosis".

Sean P. Conley, the doctor taking care of the US President Donald Trump, has issued another nightly updateof Trump's recovery from the novel coronavirus. He claims that Trump has made "substantial progress since diagnosis". Since completing 24 hours of being diagnosed, the President has also successfully the completed his second dose of Remdesivir, the antiviral drug being given to Trump for his treatment. Also read| 'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign Conley has assured that Trump has been fever-free and is not on any oxygen supplement as his saturation levels stayed between 96 and 98 per cent all day. Trump, after shifting to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, has been busy conducting his Presidential duties and is still working on his re-election campaign for the upcoming US election in which he is competing against Democratic rival Joe Biden. Another nightly update from President @realDonaldTrump’s physician: pic.twitter.com/HuF8QxcWfG — Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) October 4, 2020 × Conley acknowledged that the President is "not yet out of woods" but his team is "cautiously optimistic" about progress of Trump's health. The President will be continuing with his official duties for theupcoming days, but Conley's team will be closely monitoring his vitals as the next few days will be very critical for the President's health.

Trump 'not yet out of woods'; completes second dose of Remdesivir: Doctor

The US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now".

He starts the video message by thanking "all of the incredible medical professionals — doctors, nurses, everybody — at the Walter Reed Medical Centre."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-symptoms-very-concerning-as-virus-infects-more-gop-allies-332328">Also read|&nbsp;Trump’s symptoms ‘very concerning’ as virus infects more GOP allies</a>

He admitted to not feeling well when he was shifted to the hospital on Friday. "I came here, wasn't feeling so well," he said. However, he assured that he is "feeling much better now".

"We are working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to make America great again. We have done an awfully good job of that, but we still have steps to go and we have to finish that job," he said.

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312525833505058816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I will be back, and I think I will be back soon and I look forward to finishing the campaign the way it started and the way we have been doing, the kind of numbers we had been doing and I am proud of it. But this was something that happened, and it happened to billions of people all over the world and I am fighting for them, not just in the US, I am fighting for people all over the world." he continued.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-in-any-support-system-experiencing-no-breathing-problem-doctor-332321">Also read|&nbsp;Trump not in any support system, experiencing no breathing problem: Doctor</a>

He also added that the next few days will be the real test, "You don't know over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days."

The President also explained why did he shift to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, instead of staying in the White House claiming that he chose to not stay at the White House as he didn't want to stay locked up in a room.&nbsp;"I had to be out front... I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe," he said. "As a leader you have to confront problems. There's never been a great leader that would have done that."

He ends the video message by thanking the world leaders for their wishes, and assures people that the First Lady, too, is doing well as "she is slightly younger than me — just a tiny bit," he laughed.

The US President Donald Trump has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now".

The US President Donald Trump has published another video message for his supporters on twitter on Saturday evening assuring everyone that he is feeling "much better now". He starts the video message by thanking "all of the incredible medical professionals — doctors, nurses, everybody — at the Walter Reed Medical Centre." Also read| Trump’s symptoms ‘very concerning’ as virus infects more GOP allies He admitted to not feeling well when he was shifted to the hospital on Friday. "I came here, wasn't feeling so well," he said. However, he assured that he is "feeling much better now". "We are working hard to get me all the way back. I have to be back because we still have to make America great again. We have done an awfully good job of that, but we still have steps to go and we have to finish that job," he said. pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020 × "I will be back, and I think I will be back soon and I look forward to finishing the campaign the way it started and the way we have been doing, the kind of numbers we had been doing and I am proud of it. But this was something that happened, and it happened to billions of people all over the world and I am fighting for them, not just in the US, I am fighting for people all over the world." he continued. Also read| Trump not in any support system, experiencing no breathing problem: Doctor He also added that the next few days will be the real test, "You don't know over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days." The President also explained why did he shift to the Walter Reed Medical Centre, instead of staying in the White House claiming that he chose to not stay at the White House as he didn't want to stay locked up in a room. "I had to be out front... I can't be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe," he said. "As a leader you have to confront problems. There's never been a great leader that would have done that." He ends the video message by thanking the world leaders for their wishes, and assures people that the First Lady, too, is doing well as "she is slightly younger than me — just a tiny bit," he laughed.

'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign

US President Donald Trump's doctors says he is doing well in hospital after his COVID-19 diagnosis. Watch the report to know more.

Doctors say President Donald Trump is doing well, others express concern

US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection. He posted a four-minute video on Twitter.

"Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt.

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<a href="https://t.co/gvIPuYtTZG">pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312525833505058816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Trump's sudden illness has brought his election campaign to a screeching halt. US Presidential elections are due on November 3.

Trump's illness has also brought the focus on his administration's handling of coronavirus pandemic in America. He has already received a lot of flak for his statements in past. Trump has in past has given on-record statements like coronavirus was "just a flu". He has also advocated medicines that were not comprehensively and scientifically proven to cure or treat coronavirus infection.

Trump recently said that he gave such statements to prevent panic among public. But even considering this argument, his past statements have been considering too over the top to be made during a deadly pandemic.

Differing assessments of Trump`s health from administration officials on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night.

A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump`s condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House.

Within minutes, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, "The president`s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We`re still not on a clear path to a full recovery."

Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing "very well" and that "doctors are very pleased with his vital signs."

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/even-the-white-houses-testing-regime-couldnt-stop-coronavirus-332226"> Even the White House’s testing regime couldn’t stop coronavirus</a> 
 
Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments. A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows` initial remarks.

Administration officials have described the move to Walter Reed as precautionary and said Trump would stay for several days.

Another source who was briefed on Trump`s condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital. The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped, according to a source familiar with the situation.

White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing, and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed.

"The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made," Conley said. 
He declined to give a timetable for Trump`s possible release from the hospital, and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday.

In a statement on Saturday evening, Conley said the president was "not yet out of the woods" but his team remained cautiously optimistic.

"Today`s spectacle - doctors saying one thing, White House sources saying another thing, and both later amending their statements - only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia`s Center for Politics.

Trump campaign reshaped

With Trump off the campaign trail indefinitely, his campaign announced "Operation MAGA," based on his slogan "Make America Great Again," which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump`s elder sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, take over in-person campaigning this week.

Pence, who tested negative on Friday, is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

Biden, who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday, took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers` union, even as he wished the president well.

"I`m in a little bit of a spot here, because I don`t want to be attacking the president and the first lady now," Biden said, adding he hoped Trump and his wife Melania, who also has the illness, make a full recovery.

But he quickly turned to Trump`s response to the pandemic, calling it "unconscionable" and blasting Trump`s comment in an interview this summer that "it is what it is" when asked about the death toll.

"I find this one of the most despicable things that I`ve encountered in my whole career," Biden said. 
Trump has repeatedly played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has killed more than 208,000 Americans and hammered the U.S. economy.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, said on Sunday he was sure Trump would be fine.

"He`s got the best possible care... He just needs, I mean, the most important thing to do is to follow his doctors` advice, he`s got superb medical advice," Johnson said during an interview on BBC television.

Biden, who tested negative on Friday, told reporters he would next be tested on Sunday. His campaign will begin releasing the results of each test, a spokesman said.

Conley said Trump had received the first two doses of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays.

He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron`s REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said.

A number of other prominent Republicans have also tested positive for coronavirus since Trump`s announcement, including Republican senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

(With inputs from Reuters)

US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection.

US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection. He posted a four-minute video on Twitter. "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt. pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020 × Trump's sudden illness has brought his election campaign to a screeching halt. US Presidential elections are due on November 3. Trump's illness has also brought the focus on his administration's handling of coronavirus pandemic in America. He has already received a lot of flak for his statements in past. Trump has in past has given on-record statements like coronavirus was "just a flu". He has also advocated medicines that were not comprehensively and scientifically proven to cure or treat coronavirus infection. Trump recently said that he gave such statements to prevent panic among public. But even considering this argument, his past statements have been considering too over the top to be made during a deadly pandemic. Differing assessments of Trump`s health from administration officials on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night. A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump`s condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House. Within minutes, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, "The president`s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We`re still not on a clear path to a full recovery." Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing "very well" and that "doctors are very pleased with his vital signs." ALSO READ | Even the White House’s testing regime couldn’t stop coronavirus Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments. A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows` initial remarks. Administration officials have described the move to Walter Reed as precautionary and said Trump would stay for several days. Another source who was briefed on Trump`s condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital. The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped, according to a source familiar with the situation. White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing, and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed. "The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made," Conley said. He declined to give a timetable for Trump`s possible release from the hospital, and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday. In a statement on Saturday evening, Conley said the president was "not yet out of the woods" but his team remained cautiously optimistic. "Today`s spectacle - doctors saying one thing, White House sources saying another thing, and both later amending their statements - only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia`s Center for Politics. Trump campaign reshaped With Trump off the campaign trail indefinitely, his campaign announced "Operation MAGA," based on his slogan "Make America Great Again," which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump`s elder sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, take over in-person campaigning this week. Pence, who tested negative on Friday, is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Biden, who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday, took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers` union, even as he wished the president well. "I`m in a little bit of a spot here, because I don`t want to be attacking the president and the first lady now," Biden said, adding he hoped Trump and his wife Melania, who also has the illness, make a full recovery. But he quickly turned to Trump`s response to the pandemic, calling it "unconscionable" and blasting Trump`s comment in an interview this summer that "it is what it is" when asked about the death toll. "I find this one of the most despicable things that I`ve encountered in my whole career," Biden said. Trump has repeatedly played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has killed more than 208,000 Americans and hammered the U.S. economy. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, said on Sunday he was sure Trump would be fine. "He`s got the best possible care... He just needs, I mean, the most important thing to do is to follow his doctors` advice, he`s got superb medical advice," Johnson said during an interview on BBC television. Biden, who tested negative on Friday, told reporters he would next be tested on Sunday. His campaign will begin releasing the results of each test, a spokesman said. Conley said Trump had received the first two doses of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays. He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron`s REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said. A number of other prominent Republicans have also tested positive for coronavirus since Trump`s announcement, including Republican senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection

US President Donald Trump has his wife Melania have tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus. What happens if Covid-19 incapacitates Trump? Will this hurt his re-election chances? WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: What happens if Trump is incapacitated

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure."

"I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss. I've been voting by mail since I was elected president. It's safe, it's secure as long as you follow the instructions and do it in a timely way," Obama said on Friday.

His comments come at a time when the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly accused mail-in voting of being easily manipulated by fraud. The claim has, however, been rejected by many owing to lack of any evidence backing it up.

Also, Trump had tweeted in May: "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged &amp; even illegally printed out &amp; fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one."

The tweet received a notice from Twitter that said: "Get the facts about mail-in ballots."

The message linked to a page with statements asserting that there's no evidence linking mail-in ballots to voter fraud.

The Trump campaign has even filed lawsuit again mail-in ballots in Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

The US Postal Service' (USPS) recent delivery slowdown following the May 2020 selection of Louis DeJoy, a major GOP donor with no previous USPS experience, as Postmaster General has also contributed to rising doubts against mail-in voting.&nbsp;

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure." "I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss.

Former US president Barack Obama self-admittedly plans to vote by mail in the upcoming November 3 election, calling it "safe" and "secure." "I will vote by mail just because when I vote in person, I've got to admit, there's a fuss. I've been voting by mail since I was elected president. It's safe, it's secure as long as you follow the instructions and do it in a timely way," Obama said on Friday. His comments come at a time when the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly accused mail-in voting of being easily manipulated by fraud. The claim has, however, been rejected by many owing to lack of any evidence backing it up. Also, Trump had tweeted in May: "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one." The tweet received a notice from Twitter that said: "Get the facts about mail-in ballots." The message linked to a page with statements asserting that there's no evidence linking mail-in ballots to voter fraud. The Trump campaign has even filed lawsuit again mail-in ballots in Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa and Pennsylvania. The US Postal Service' (USPS) recent delivery slowdown following the May 2020 selection of Louis DeJoy, a major GOP donor with no previous USPS experience, as Postmaster General has also contributed to rising doubts against mail-in voting.

Barack Obama says plans to vote by mail in 2020 presidential election

After&nbsp;the US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, many took to Twitter to slam&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for mishandling the pandemic.

Some people also wished ill health and death upon the President after he declared being infected. However, the social media giant Twitter has said that all tweets that wish death of&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;violate its policies and will removed from the platform, a local publication Motherboard claimed.

Twitter said all such tweets violate Twitter’s “Abusive Behavior policy”, and could also lead to suspension of such accounts.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-breaks-silence-on-trump-wishes-him-speedy-recovery-332152">Also read:&nbsp;China breaks silence on Trump, wishes him speedy recovery</a>

This announcement gained some criticism for the social media platform as some users claimed of receiving such messages and threats quite frequently, and called it to be a 'surprising' move.

However, Twitter quickly dismissed such allegations and cleared the confusion by stating that such malicious content against anyone will not be tolerated.

"Tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension.," Twitter Comms tweeted.

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tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension. <a href="https://t.co/lQ8wWGL2y0">https://t.co/lQ8wWGL2y0</a> <a href="https://t.co/P2vGfUeUQf">https://t.co/P2vGfUeUQf</a>
— Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterComms/status/1312167835783708672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The announcement came hours after China's daily Global Times' Editor took to twitter to slam&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and said the President and his wife have "paid the price" for downplaying the pandemic.

"President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19. The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his reelection," Hu Xijin, Editor, Globa Times&nbsp;tweeted.

Meanwhile, many other world leaders such as Kim Jong Un, Narendra Modi and&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;Democratic rival&nbsp;Joe Biden&nbsp;and his running mate&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;wished the President and the First lady a speedy and full recovery from the virus.

After the US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, many took to Twitter to slam Trump for mishandling the pandemic.

After the US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, many took to Twitter to slam Trump for mishandling the pandemic. Some people also wished ill health and death upon the President after he declared being infected. However, the social media giant Twitter has said that all tweets that wish death of Trump violate its policies and will removed from the platform, a local publication Motherboard claimed. Twitter said all such tweets violate Twitter’s “Abusive Behavior policy”, and could also lead to suspension of such accounts. Also read: China breaks silence on Trump, wishes him speedy recovery This announcement gained some criticism for the social media platform as some users claimed of receiving such messages and threats quite frequently, and called it to be a 'surprising' move. However, Twitter quickly dismissed such allegations and cleared the confusion by stating that such malicious content against anyone will not be tolerated. "Tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension.," Twitter Comms tweeted. tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension. https://t.co/lQ8wWGL2y0 https://t.co/P2vGfUeUQf — Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) October 2, 2020 × The announcement came hours after China's daily Global Times' Editor took to twitter to slam Trump and said the President and his wife have "paid the price" for downplaying the pandemic. "President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19. The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his reelection," Hu Xijin, Editor, Globa Times tweeted. Meanwhile, many other world leaders such as Kim Jong Un, Narendra Modi and Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris wished the President and the First lady a speedy and full recovery from the virus.

Twitter to remove content that wishes Trump's death by COVID: Reports

Global equity markets slumped and investors piled into safer gold and the Japanese yen on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to market uncertainty just 32 days before U.S. elections.

Trump’s bombshell announcement sparked a risk-off mood among investors already concerned about an elusive coronavirus relief package aimed at bolstering a U.S. economy that has lost steam, as seen by slowing jobs growth in September payrolls data.

Gold headed toward its best week in nearly two months even as it pared early gains, while the Japanese yen made its sharpest advance in more than a month. But the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose mildly, entrenched in a narrow trading range it has held for three weeks.

How voters feel about the pandemic on voting day could determine the election’s outcome and that is highly unusual, said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist for the U.S. SPDR business at State Street Global Advisors in Boston.

“Today’s news demonstrates a bit of a weakness in terms of the Trump re-election campaign,” he said. “The range of outcomes has expanded and some of the more extreme outcomes have increased in probability and markets certainly don’t like that.”

Trump is experiencing mild symptoms but will keep working after testing positive, administration officials said.

Stocks on Wall Street mostly fell but regional indexes in Europe ended slightly higher after an initial sell-off on the Trump news. The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.22% to 1,405.35 and the STOXX Europe 600 added 0.25% to 362.69.

MSCI’s benchmark for global equity markets fell 0.5% to 565.15, while its emerging markets index fell 0.26%.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.08%, while the S&amp;P 500 lost 0.61% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.99%.

How long the risk-aversion will last depends on the extent of the infection within the White House, said Francois Savary, chief investment officer at Swiss wealth manager Prime Partners.

“It will weigh on the market today and early next week but will not induce a long-lasting correction if the infection is contained to Trump,” he said.

As for stock market shocks, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, caused the S&amp;P 500 to plunge nearly 3% and the New York Stock Exchange shut two hours before its regular closing time. But the losses were confined to a single day and the market recovered within two days.

The Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday was the last before the Nov. 3 presidential election.

September’s employment gains were the smallest since the jobs recovery started in May and left the U.S. labor market a long way from recouping the 22.2 million jobs lost in March and April, indicating slower growth heading into the fourth quarter.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 661,000 jobs last month, below consensus expectations of 850,000, leading to mostly negative reaction by economists.

But both Arone and Steven Ricchiuto, U.S. chief economist at Mizuho Securities USA in New York, said the loss of government jobs, mostly seasonal in education, pulled numbers lower while the private sector’s gains were above overall expectations.

“The net result is the seasonal factors pulled down the state and local portion, very, very dramatically, in particular in the in education area,” Ricchiuto said. “The private sector component, however, continues to improve at a healthy pace.”

The government lost more than 200,000 jobs, Arone said.

“Those job losses on the government side are real, don’t get me wrong. But overall the private sector seems to be hanging in there pretty well,” he said.

<h2>BETS ARE OFF</h2>

With the election now more uncertain, online gambling site Betfair on Friday suspended betting on the outcome of the Nov. 3 vote.

The news from the White House triggered a rise in the dollar and the yen. The dollar index rose 0.103%, with the euro down 0.28% to $1.1714.

The Japanese yen strengthened 0.15% versus the greenback at 105.37 per dollar.

The Australian dollar, which serves as a liquid proxy for risk assets, was down 0.23%.

Germany’s benchmark 10-year bond was down around 0.7 basis point at -0.536%.

Crude prices fell 4% on Trump’s positive test for COVID-19, roiling risky assets, and as rising global crude output threatens to overwhelm the oil market’s weak recovery.

Brent crude futures settled down $1.66 at $39.27 a barrel. U.S. crude futures fell $1.67 to settle at $37.05 a barrel.

Gold pared early gains to turn lower as stocks pared losses.

“If more members of the U.S. government’s senior leadership are diagnosed positive, gold could be set for an extended rally,” said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA.

Spot gold prices fell 0.17% to $1,901.77 an ounce. U.S. gold futures settled down 0.5% at $1,907.60.

Global equity markets slumped and investors piled into safer gold and the Japanese yen on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to market uncertainty just 32 days before U.

Global equity markets slumped and investors piled into safer gold and the Japanese yen on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to market uncertainty just 32 days before U.S. elections. Trump’s bombshell announcement sparked a risk-off mood among investors already concerned about an elusive coronavirus relief package aimed at bolstering a U.S. economy that has lost steam, as seen by slowing jobs growth in September payrolls data. Gold headed toward its best week in nearly two months even as it pared early gains, while the Japanese yen made its sharpest advance in more than a month. But the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose mildly, entrenched in a narrow trading range it has held for three weeks. How voters feel about the pandemic on voting day could determine the election’s outcome and that is highly unusual, said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist for the U.S. SPDR business at State Street Global Advisors in Boston. “Today’s news demonstrates a bit of a weakness in terms of the Trump re-election campaign,” he said. “The range of outcomes has expanded and some of the more extreme outcomes have increased in probability and markets certainly don’t like that.” Trump is experiencing mild symptoms but will keep working after testing positive, administration officials said. Stocks on Wall Street mostly fell but regional indexes in Europe ended slightly higher after an initial sell-off on the Trump news. The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.22% to 1,405.35 and the STOXX Europe 600 added 0.25% to 362.69. MSCI’s benchmark for global equity markets fell 0.5% to 565.15, while its emerging markets index fell 0.26%. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.08%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.61% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.99%. How long the risk-aversion will last depends on the extent of the infection within the White House, said Francois Savary, chief investment officer at Swiss wealth manager Prime Partners. “It will weigh on the market today and early next week but will not induce a long-lasting correction if the infection is contained to Trump,” he said. As for stock market shocks, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, caused the S&P 500 to plunge nearly 3% and the New York Stock Exchange shut two hours before its regular closing time. But the losses were confined to a single day and the market recovered within two days. The Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday was the last before the Nov. 3 presidential election. September’s employment gains were the smallest since the jobs recovery started in May and left the U.S. labor market a long way from recouping the 22.2 million jobs lost in March and April, indicating slower growth heading into the fourth quarter. U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 661,000 jobs last month, below consensus expectations of 850,000, leading to mostly negative reaction by economists. But both Arone and Steven Ricchiuto, U.S. chief economist at Mizuho Securities USA in New York, said the loss of government jobs, mostly seasonal in education, pulled numbers lower while the private sector’s gains were above overall expectations. “The net result is the seasonal factors pulled down the state and local portion, very, very dramatically, in particular in the in education area,” Ricchiuto said. “The private sector component, however, continues to improve at a healthy pace.” The government lost more than 200,000 jobs, Arone said. “Those job losses on the government side are real, don’t get me wrong. But overall the private sector seems to be hanging in there pretty well,” he said. BETS ARE OFF With the election now more uncertain, online gambling site Betfair on Friday suspended betting on the outcome of the Nov. 3 vote. The news from the White House triggered a rise in the dollar and the yen. The dollar index rose 0.103%, with the euro down 0.28% to $1.1714. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.15% versus the greenback at 105.37 per dollar. The Australian dollar, which serves as a liquid proxy for risk assets, was down 0.23%. Germany’s benchmark 10-year bond was down around 0.7 basis point at -0.536%. Crude prices fell 4% on Trump’s positive test for COVID-19, roiling risky assets, and as rising global crude output threatens to overwhelm the oil market’s weak recovery. Brent crude futures settled down $1.66 at $39.27 a barrel. U.S. crude futures fell $1.67 to settle at $37.05 a barrel. Gold pared early gains to turn lower as stocks pared losses. “If more members of the U.S. government’s senior leadership are diagnosed positive, gold could be set for an extended rally,” said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA. Spot gold prices fell 0.17% to $1,901.77 an ounce. U.S. gold futures settled down 0.5% at $1,907.60.

Stocks fall, dollar gains after Trump gets coronavirus

A new recording from US President Donald Trump's April 13 interview with journalist Bob Woodward has emerged that shows him saying he wasn't concerned about contracting the novel coronavirus.

The irony is Trump now is hospitalised with COVID-19 in the military hospital, upending the upcoming presidential election. And his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who he used to mock for being too cautious about the virus, is now on a campaign trail.

CNN on Friday obtained a new audio recording from Woodward's April 13 interview with Trump that sheds new light on the president's mindset. While Trump admitted to Woodward the virus is a "plague" that "rips you apart," he dismissed concerns about his own health.

"You're risking getting it, of course," said Woodward. "The way you move around and have those briefings and deal with people. Are you worried about that?"

"No, I'm not. I don't know why I'm not. I'm not," the President responded.

"Why?" Woodward asked.

"I don't know," Trump said. "I'm just not."

Trump has often been criticised for his mishandling and downplaying of the pandemic. He also has contradicted or undermined the recommendations from experts in his own administration. And he has repeatedly said that the end of the virus' spread was just around the corner.

The president's rosy assessment of the public-health crisis had not diminished even in the hours leading up to announcing his positive test results early Friday morning. In prerecorded remarks for Thursday night's Al Smith charity dinner, Trump proclaimed that the "end of the pandemic is in sight."

According to a previous report by CNN, Trump told Woodward a story about a meeting of about 10 people in the Oval Office where someone in the room sneezed.

"You know, just a sneeze, the entire room bailed out, OK? Including me, by the way," Trump said.

Meanwhile, Biden has the proverbial last laugh.

At a rally in Michigan, he said, "This is not a matter of politics. It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically."

Biden urged all Americans to follow scientific guidelines, including wearing masks, washing hands frequently and staying 6 feet (1.83 m) apart. Health officials, including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, have said masks are a crucial tool for slowing the spread of the virus.

"Be patriotic," Biden said. "It's not about being a tough guy. It`s about doing your part."

A new recording from US President Donald Trump's April 13 interview with journalist Bob Woodward has emerged that shows him saying he wasn't concerned about contracting the novel coronavirus.

A new recording from US President Donald Trump's April 13 interview with journalist Bob Woodward has emerged that shows him saying he wasn't concerned about contracting the novel coronavirus. The irony is Trump now is hospitalised with COVID-19 in the military hospital, upending the upcoming presidential election. And his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who he used to mock for being too cautious about the virus, is now on a campaign trail. CNN on Friday obtained a new audio recording from Woodward's April 13 interview with Trump that sheds new light on the president's mindset. While Trump admitted to Woodward the virus is a "plague" that "rips you apart," he dismissed concerns about his own health. "You're risking getting it, of course," said Woodward. "The way you move around and have those briefings and deal with people. Are you worried about that?" "No, I'm not. I don't know why I'm not. I'm not," the President responded. "Why?" Woodward asked. "I don't know," Trump said. "I'm just not." Trump has often been criticised for his mishandling and downplaying of the pandemic. He also has contradicted or undermined the recommendations from experts in his own administration. And he has repeatedly said that the end of the virus' spread was just around the corner. The president's rosy assessment of the public-health crisis had not diminished even in the hours leading up to announcing his positive test results early Friday morning. In prerecorded remarks for Thursday night's Al Smith charity dinner, Trump proclaimed that the "end of the pandemic is in sight." According to a previous report by CNN, Trump told Woodward a story about a meeting of about 10 people in the Oval Office where someone in the room sneezed. "You know, just a sneeze, the entire room bailed out, OK? Including me, by the way," Trump said. Meanwhile, Biden has the proverbial last laugh. At a rally in Michigan, he said, "This is not a matter of politics. It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically." Biden urged all Americans to follow scientific guidelines, including wearing masks, washing hands frequently and staying 6 feet (1.83 m) apart. Health officials, including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, have said masks are a crucial tool for slowing the spread of the virus. "Be patriotic," Biden said. "It's not about being a tough guy. It`s about doing your part."

Trump once said he wasn't concerned about contracting coronavirus

President Donald Trump was treated on Friday for COVID-19 with a high-dose of the experimental antibody drug developed by the US biotech firm Regeneron.&nbsp;

What is it, how far along are its clinical trials, and why do some experts disagree with using a medicine before it's been approved?

Here's what you need to know.

What is the treatment?

Regeneron's treatment, called REGN-COV2, is a combination or "cocktail" of two antibodies: infection-fighting proteins that were developed to bind to the part of the new coronavirus that it uses to invade human cells.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-airlifted-to-military-hospital-for-covid-treatment-releases-video-message-332132">Also read:&nbsp;Trump airlifted to military hospital for COVID treatment; releases video message</a>

The antibodies attach themselves to different parts of the virus' "spike protein," distorting its structure — similar in a way to knocking a key out of shape so it no longer fits its lock.

Vaccines work by teaching the body to make its own antibodies, but scientists are also testing ready-made antibodies from convalescent plasma, taken from the blood of recovered patients.

But it is not possible to make convalescent plasma a mass treatment.

Researchers can also comb through antibodies produced by recovered patients and select the most effective out of thousands, and then manufacture them at scale.

In a paper published in Science in June, Regeneron scientists described how they selected the two best antibodies from both recovered human patients and infected mice that were genetically modified to give them human-like immune systems.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-the-coronavirus-what-risks-does-he-face-332026">Also read:&nbsp;Trump has the coronavirus. What risks does he face?</a>

In another paper in the same journal, scientists argued that by using two antibodies, they had guarded against the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 might randomly mutate to evade the blocking action of one, and then go on to become the dominant strain of the virus.

The company used the same "humanized mouse" technology to develop a triple-antibody cocktail which was shown to be effective against Ebola last year.

"That's part of what's giving us confidence, the platform has been tried and has been shown to be to work very, very well," Christos Kyratsous, Regeneron's lead infectious disease scientist told AFP in March.

The treatments are given by an intravenous drip.

Does it work?

Clinical trials are being carried out to test the drug's safety and efficacy at different dose levels and to compare it against a placebo, to answer this question.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-no-mask-president-how-trump-spent-the-week-just-before-contacting-the-virus-332058">Have a look|&nbsp;The No Mask President: How Trump spent the week just before contacting the virus</a>

On Tuesday, the firm announced some results from an early stage clinical trial, saying that its treatment reduced the viral load and recovery time in non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The results related to 275 patients, and Regeneron's president George Yancopoulos said the company had begun talks with regulatory authorities — presumably for temporary approval before full licensure.

But the detailed data hasn't yet been made public or peer-reviewed.

In terms of safety, it said "infusion reactions" were seen in four patients — two on placebo and two on the drug, while "serious adverse events" occurred in two placebo patients and one on the drug. No one died.

The company did not detail what these side-effects were, but Arun Swaminath, a doctor at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital, said that in general, mild reactions to IV-therapies include fevers, chills and fatigue.

More serious symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath.

The outpatient trial has now moved to late-stage.

Regeneron is also running late-stage trials for hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the UK and for the drug's potential use to prevent household contacts of COVID-19 patients from being infected.

Why are some experts concerned?

The decision to give Trump the treatment before the trials have even produced enough data for emergency use authorisation has puzzled some scientists.

Carla Perissinotto, a geriatrician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, told AFP that using unapproved treatments on a "compassionate use" basis normally happens when everything else has failed.

"The risk of having side effects is so much greater, that I usually am very cautious about anything that's experimental and not proven," she said. &nbsp;

Jeremy Faust, a public health expert at Harvard, said it raised uncomfortable possibilities: Either the president's team had not understood the scientific process, or they had understood but were overridden by Trump on someone else's advice.

"People will see this and they'll think that this is the treatment you should have — and if you don't give it to other people who have coronavirus that we're denying them special treatment.&nbsp;

"In reality that's not the case... we shouldn't be treating the president as a guinea pig."&nbsp;

President Donald Trump was treated on Friday for COVID-19 with a high-dose of the experimental antibody drug developed by the US biotech firm Regeneron. What is it, how far along are its clinical trials, and why do some experts disagree with using a medicine before it's been approved?

President Donald Trump was treated on Friday for COVID-19 with a high-dose of the experimental antibody drug developed by the US biotech firm Regeneron. What is it, how far along are its clinical trials, and why do some experts disagree with using a medicine before it's been approved? Here's what you need to know. What is the treatment? Regeneron's treatment, called REGN-COV2, is a combination or "cocktail" of two antibodies: infection-fighting proteins that were developed to bind to the part of the new coronavirus that it uses to invade human cells. Also read: Trump airlifted to military hospital for COVID treatment; releases video message The antibodies attach themselves to different parts of the virus' "spike protein," distorting its structure — similar in a way to knocking a key out of shape so it no longer fits its lock. Vaccines work by teaching the body to make its own antibodies, but scientists are also testing ready-made antibodies from convalescent plasma, taken from the blood of recovered patients. But it is not possible to make convalescent plasma a mass treatment. Researchers can also comb through antibodies produced by recovered patients and select the most effective out of thousands, and then manufacture them at scale. In a paper published in Science in June, Regeneron scientists described how they selected the two best antibodies from both recovered human patients and infected mice that were genetically modified to give them human-like immune systems. Also read: Trump has the coronavirus. What risks does he face? In another paper in the same journal, scientists argued that by using two antibodies, they had guarded against the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 might randomly mutate to evade the blocking action of one, and then go on to become the dominant strain of the virus. The company used the same "humanized mouse" technology to develop a triple-antibody cocktail which was shown to be effective against Ebola last year. "That's part of what's giving us confidence, the platform has been tried and has been shown to be to work very, very well," Christos Kyratsous, Regeneron's lead infectious disease scientist told AFP in March. The treatments are given by an intravenous drip. Does it work? Clinical trials are being carried out to test the drug's safety and efficacy at different dose levels and to compare it against a placebo, to answer this question. Have a look| The No Mask President: How Trump spent the week just before contacting the virus On Tuesday, the firm announced some results from an early stage clinical trial, saying that its treatment reduced the viral load and recovery time in non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients. The results related to 275 patients, and Regeneron's president George Yancopoulos said the company had begun talks with regulatory authorities — presumably for temporary approval before full licensure. But the detailed data hasn't yet been made public or peer-reviewed. In terms of safety, it said "infusion reactions" were seen in four patients — two on placebo and two on the drug, while "serious adverse events" occurred in two placebo patients and one on the drug. No one died. The company did not detail what these side-effects were, but Arun Swaminath, a doctor at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital, said that in general, mild reactions to IV-therapies include fevers, chills and fatigue. More serious symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. The outpatient trial has now moved to late-stage. Regeneron is also running late-stage trials for hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the UK and for the drug's potential use to prevent household contacts of COVID-19 patients from being infected. Why are some experts concerned? The decision to give Trump the treatment before the trials have even produced enough data for emergency use authorisation has puzzled some scientists. Carla Perissinotto, a geriatrician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, told AFP that using unapproved treatments on a "compassionate use" basis normally happens when everything else has failed. "The risk of having side effects is so much greater, that I usually am very cautious about anything that's experimental and not proven," she said. Jeremy Faust, a public health expert at Harvard, said it raised uncomfortable possibilities: Either the president's team had not understood the scientific process, or they had understood but were overridden by Trump on someone else's advice. "People will see this and they'll think that this is the treatment you should have — and if you don't give it to other people who have coronavirus that we're denying them special treatment. "In reality that's not the case... we shouldn't be treating the president as a guinea pig."

What you need to know about Regeneron's COVID-19 treatment

US President Donald Trump was admitted to the Walter reed military hospital in Washington after testing positive for COVID-19. White house has confirmed that hospitalisation is precautionary & he will remain in hospital for few days. Watch the report to know more.

White House: President Trump remains fatigued; will remain in hospital for few days

Leaders and prominent figures from around the world Friday sent their best wishes to US President Donald Trump and his family after he announced that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus.

Trump COVID19 positive: Leaders around the world send wishes to Trump

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