Donald Trump will 'begin quarantine process' after COVID-19 test

US President Donald Trump has announced he will begin the “quarantine process” after he was tested for the deadly coronavirus.

He revealed on Twitter that he and his wife Melania Trump would begin quarantining while they awaited their test results.

“Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible!” he tweeted.

“The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”.

Mr Trump earlier suggested on Fox News he might need to quarantine after one of his most senior advisors tested positive for COVID-19.

President Trump was in close contact with the staffer, Hope Hicks, and has been tested for coronavirus himself.

The results for both him and his wife are pending.

Hope Hicks returned a positive coronavirus test after travelling with the president on Air Force One on Tuesday to the presidential rally, and again on Wednesday to a Minnesota rally.

Mr Trump confirmed the diagnosis to Fox News, telling them he had also received a test and was currently awaiting his results.

“I’ll get my test back either tonight or tomorrow morning. I spend a lot of time with Hope and so does the first lady,” he said.

According to guidelines released by the White House, if someone tests positive to COVID-19 the entire household needs to remain at home and avoid visiting work or school.

But the Brookings Institution, an American research group, said even a positive COVID-19 test result for President Trump would not cause “emergency action”.

“The president would likely be able to continue his everyday activities and manage the office either undisturbed or with mild challenges,” Bookings said.

“A presidential diagnosis would create some challenges for those around him. The need for 24-hour Secret Service protection could put agents at risk for contracting it.

“But given modern technology, the president could quarantine and have remote or sufficiently distanced contact from most, if not all, aides, including the individual(s) who would be involved in the presidential daily brief.

"There would need to be other precautions taken, even if the president were to be asymptomatic.

“It would be important to keep Vice President Pence, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Grassley (President Pro Tempore), and members of the cabinet isolated from the president.

“It would be especially important to ensure that the vice president have limited contact with individuals generally to reduce his chances of contracting the virus as well.”

Видео Donald Trump will 'begin quarantine process' after COVID-19 test канала Sky News Australia