Despite being less than a week into a COVID-19 diagnosis, Donald Trump has returned the Oval Office. New York Times reporter Peter Baker writes that this came “over the objections of aides who wanted him to remain isolated in the residence while recovering from the coronavirus.” This also goes against CDC protocols and common sense, but when has that stopped this president before.
ABC News reports: “White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters that safety precautions would be taken to accommodate the president’s request and said that those who have direct contact with the president at this time are wearing “full PPE, masks, goggles, and the like.”
The CDC guidelines say if you are diagnosed with the virus, “As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home.” In this case, Trump could have stayed in his residence and worked from there. It’s outfitted with remote working spaces. Instead, he no doubt thought working from the Oval Office would make him seem more in control.
