US President Donald Trump said in a tweet early on Friday that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19.
“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately,” he said.
Earlier, he had said he would begin self-quarantine while waiting for the coronavirus test results after Hope Hicks, one of his closest aides, tested positive for Covid-19. Hicks travelled with Trump aboard Air Force One to and from the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Also read: Trump claims he won Tuesday’s debate
US stock futures dip
US stock futures dipped on Friday after Trump said he and his wife would quarantine. Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.39 per cent in Asian trading after the news, extending earlier losses, while Treasury yields remained broadly unchanged.
Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy and Capital, Sydney, said: “He wouldn’t be the first leader to have tested positive for coronavirus. The election is now underway so it may add to the uncertainty, but doesn’t change the fundamental outlook. There might be a sympathy vote for Trump if he gets the coronavirus.”