WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he and FirstLady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus and are going intoquarantine “immediately”.

“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will getthrough this TOGETHER!” tweeted the US president.

Trump is the latest world leader to have contracted the virus. BritishPrime Minister Boris Jonhson was the first major leader who was diagnosedwith COVID-19 in March.Election campaign in doldrums

The future of Trump’s re-election campaign is in doldrums due to hisillness and inability to address the rallies before the crucial November 3vote.

According to a New York Times report, “Even if Mr. Trump, 74, remainsasymptomatic, he will have to withdraw from the campaign trail and stayisolated in the White House for an unknown period of time.”

“If he becomes sick, it could raise questions about whether he shouldremain on the ballot at all,” the report added.

The report noted that the positive test could prove “devastating” to hispolitical fortunes given his months of diminishing the seriousness of thepandemic.

Earlier, the US President had tweeted that he was awaiting his test resultsafter one of his close adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive for thevirus. He had also said that he was going into quarantine with his wifeMelania while awaiting for the result.

Hope Hicks, a top adviser to the president who has travelled with him onAir Force One several times this week, has contracted the virus, accordingto US media reports. – APP/AFP