THE WORLD SPENT MUCH OF Friday reeling upon the news of President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump testing positive for COVID-19. Questions and concerns were commonplace entering the weekend as uncertainty reigned supreme less than one month before the presidential election.
While the illness has affected individuals in myriad ways, the 74-year-old Trump has both his share of strengths and weaknesses that could be on display while he and the First Lady remain in quarantine.
Perhaps the biggest barrier facing Trump is his age. According to data from the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the president is five times likely to be hospitalized along with being 90 times at risk of succumbing to a illness that has cost the lives of nearly 210,000 Americans as of Thursday.
“The most important thing is clearly having careful observation and really good supportive care,” said Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, in a story in USAToday.com. “Until we have further data, I would be reluctant to embark on any therapy.”
A 6’3 and at least 250 pounds, Trump is also three times likely to be impacted by a serious infection of COVID-19. Being a male works against the president, as 54% of those who have died have been men. Of those males, 61% were between the ages of 60-75.
However, the active schedule Trump has become known for works strongly in his favor. He has not had any serious health issues prior to testing positive for COVID-19, which suggests that despite his age and weight, Trump stands a good chance of avoiding a serious infection. Those who have at least three or more comorbidities (asthma, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, stroke or COPD) have seen their chances increase significantly.
In the case of Melania Trump, the former model appears to be in good position to make a complete recovery. The 50-year-old First Lady is not in the high risk category for the more severe symptoms of COVID-19, although people in the 50-64 age group are three times likely to be hospitalized and 30 times likely to die, compared to those in the 18-29 age group.
The unpredictability of the illness makes it a grab bag of sorts. Many who have been infected did not develop any symptoms. Others who did get infected endured mild cold and flu-like symptoms.
Recovering from COVID-19 has left some with lingering affects such as headaches and nausea, but others have had developed long-term damage to vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
What is certain is that Trump’s current state will keep him off the campaign trail while also placing the second presidential debate between himself and Joe Biden on October 15 in doubt. Biden, who shared the stage with Trump on Tuesday, tested negative for the illness but his campaign may be put on hold.
