COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just two days after the first presidential debate in Cleveland, the Trump administration's top aide Hope Hicks tested positive for COVID-19. Hicks was one of many who accompanied the president to the debate. Hours later, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive. Many of the Ohio lawmakers who were around Trump in the last week have tested negative as of Friday afternoon.
Over the past week, three Ohio lawmakers are known to have been around Trump and his aides for different events. Others attended Tuesday's debate. On Monday, Sen. Rob Portman joined Trump outside the White House to showcase the new “Endurance” electric pickup truck from Ohio’s Lordstown Motors.
In a tweet Friday morning, Portman said he hopes they have a speedy recovery.
"I hope everyone will support their recovery by continuing to do their part to slow the spread by wearing a mask and practicing social distancing," he wrote.
Portman tested negative for the virus Friday.
Rep. Mike Turner was also at the White House event Monday. Turner’s communications director, Morgan Rako, released this statement:
"After being with the President on Monday and out of an abundance of caution, Congressman Turner was re-tested for coronavirus this morning and tested negative."
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan traveled on Air Force One with Trump to Tuesday's debate. Friday afternoon, he confirmed he tested negative for the virus and praised the president on Twitter, saying "He's a fighter!" On Fox and Friends Friday, Jordan said he was only around the president for a short amount of time, and added, "I feel great. Had a great workout yesterday."
The Cleveland Clinic, which partnered with Case Western Reserve University to host the debate, released a statement Friday afternoon saying guests who attended have a low risk of being infected.
“Our thoughts are with the President, First Lady and all of our guests. As health advisor to the Commission on Presidential Debates and the host site, we had requirements to maintain a safe environment that align with CDC guidelines- including social distancing, hand sanitizing, temperature checks and masking. Most importantly, everyone permitted inside the debate hall tested negative for COVID-19 prior to entry. Individuals traveling with both candidates, including the candidates themselves, had been tested and tested negative by their respective campaigns," the statement read.
Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden also shared his well wishes to the president and the first lady on Twitter, saying "We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family." Kamala Harris shared similar sentiments, hoping for a speedy recovery.
Biden and Trump went head-to-head over the coronavirus during Tuesday's debate. When it came to masks, Trump said he wears one "when I think I need it." He also claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, had initially told Trump that "masks are not good. Then, he changed his mind." Fauci has since denied the claims, saying he's always encouraged Americans to wear masks.
Trump also mocked Biden during the debate for wearing masks, saying, “He could be speaking 200 feet away from it. And he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
As Trump's family and advisors walked into the debate room and sat down, they removed their masks. It was against debate rules, which state everyone in the room must wear a mask. Reportedly, a Cleveland Clinic doctor asked them to put on their masks or offered to get them masks.
They declined.
A few members of the Trump family have already been tested, reporting negative results. A slew of members in Trump's inner circle and other lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi have also announced they are being tested for COVID-19 Friday morning and are awaiting results.
The Associated Press reported Trump is showing mild symptoms. Vice President Mike Pence has tested negative. The Bidens have also tested negative.
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a press conference to discuss the news regarding President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
The governor took the opportunity at the briefing to stress the urgency in taking the proper precautions to help combat the virus.
“I think what this reminds us is anybody you come in contact with may have the COVID. Nobody is immune to it. If the president of the U.S. has it, anyone can have it.” He added, “This is a powerful reminder to us that we have to do the basic things. We have to wear masks. We have to social distance. We have to be careful. We have to avoid big crowds.”
Citing the huge jump in new cases over the course of one day, DeWine said, “If we could get 90 percent of people to wear a mask, these numbers would not be what you saw today.”
DeWine and his wife Fran tested negative for the virus, which he announced Friday evening. Husted, who attended Tuesday's debate, also tested negative.
"I did not come within 50 feet, at minimum, of the president or anybody who was part of the group. I guess it was one of those times that not having a good seat was a good thing," Husted said in reference to the debate.
Husted also reiterated the importance of mask wearing as essential in ensuring everyone is protected.
“When you wear this, it does show your consideration for one another," he said. "It’s not just a symbol, but an act of courtesy.”
Both DeWine and Husted said the Cleveland Clinic did a good job at Tuesday’s debate.
“I thought the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western did everything they could to do the right thing,” said Husted. “To get in the debate hall, you had to have a test that came back negative for the virus. Everybody that got in had to have their temperature taken. Everybody that got in had to wear a mask. I saw almost everybody had a mask on in the venue,” he added.
DeWine urged anyone who attended a political rally to get tested.
Around Ohio, other lawmakers have been sharing their results:
Rep. Joe Miller announced on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19, saying he started out with mild symptoms like a sinus infection. He hasn't been around the president or the debate and believes he contracted it either in Lorain County or in Columbus.
Rep. Tim Ryan tweeted that he tested negative this morning after attending the debate:
Rep. Emilia Sykes released this statement about being at Tuesday’s debate:
“This goes to show that this virus does not discriminate and anyone is susceptible. Everyone please stay safe and follow the CDC guidelines."
While she didn't disclose whether she has been tested for COVID-19, she said she is isolating and awaiting guidance from authorities.