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Coronavirus Watch: Week after testing positive, Trump cleared for public events

Rachel Aretakis   | Paste BN

Wouldn't you want access to President Trump's antibody treatment?

Not so fast.

The drug Trump believes "cured" his COVID-19 isn't approved yet for use for ordinary Americans. And while it appears to be useful treatment, the drug maker, Regeneron, still must clear regulatory hurdles, like proving it is safe and effective. Despite the president's remarks, that's not yet known.

It's Friday, and we're still following the effect of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis. Here's what we know as of 1:30 p.m. ET:

  • Trump said he may hold campaign rallies this weekend in Florida and Pennsylvania. It's been one week since he tested positive. 
  • White House physician Sean Conley on Thursday cleared the president to resume public events, saying he had completed his COVID-19 therapy. 
  • Meanwhile, Trump and the administration have repeatedly declined to say when he last received a negative test. 
  • Vice President Mike Pence, who has repeatedly tested negative, canceled a planned appearance in Indianapolis for Friday. His office did not explain why but did say that nobody was sick.
  • Status of stimulus package? The White House is set to offer Democrats a $1.8 trillion COVID-19 package, according to multiple reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to talk Friday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
  • And if you're curious, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn't been to the White House since August. Why? He says it's because of the White House's lax coronavirus precautions. 

This week's numbers: 10 states set records for new cases: Alaska, Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Record numbers of deaths were reported in South Dakota and Utah, according to a Paste BN analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Thursday. 

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported 7.6 million cases and more than 212,000 people have died from the coronavirus. Track the numbers in your state here. 

Thank you for subscribing to the Coronavirus Watch! Have a safe weekend.

– Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor, @raretakis

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