Coronavirus Update: Trump Refuses To Be Tested Despite Exposure To COVID-19

President Donald Trump still refuses to be tested for COVID-19 despite clear indications he was in close contact with at least three people that either have or are suspected to have the disease. COVID-19 is deadlier to persons over 60 years old with co-morbid conditions. Trump is 73 and obese.

Calls for Trump to submit to the test is rising after Fabio Wajngarten, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s press secretary, tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Brazil from the U.S. this week.

Photos show Wajngarten in close contact with both Trump and vice president Mike Pence four days ago at Mar-a-Lago. Wajngarten on Instagram shared a photo of himself standing next to Trump.

Asked about this, Trump again acted dismissively, saying he “isn’t concerned” about the situation. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham falsely claimed both Trump and Pence "had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.”

Oddly, two Republicans senators who were at the same event decided to self-quarantine. Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, said they went into self-quarantine after attending the same Mar-a-Lago event where Wajngarten was present. Trump has consistently downplayed the severity of COVID-19 and has been assailed for it.

Despite admonitions against it, Trump continues to shake hands and attend his reelection campaign rallies. Two days ago, Trump compared COVID-19 to the common flu, even as health experts affirm the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is 10 times deadlier than the flu.

Calls for Trump to have himself tested for COVID-19 grew louder on Monday after two of his close allies -- Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, -- went into self-quarantine after finding out they had been in direct contact with a fellow Republican now confirmed with COVID-19. Collins and Gaetz claim they have no symptoms of the coronavirus.

It's known Collins shook hands with Trump on March 6 when the latter traveled to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Georgia en route to two days of golfing at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Gaetz flew back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland with Trump on Monday.

Gaetz learned shortly after the plane was airborne both he and Collins were in contact with a fellow Republican at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland in late February. Gaetz isolated himself from the others on the plane and sat in a section of the plane by himself.

He later said he was entering self-quarantine about an hour after he got off the plane with Trump. Gaetz said he's been tested for the virus “and expects results soon."

Collins didn't confirm if he's been tested for the coronavirus. He also said he'd follow the recommendations of the House Physician. It's surprising that two staffers from his office have self-quarantined.

“This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for coronavirus,” said Collins.

“While I feel completely healthy and I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine at my home for the remainder of the 14-day period out of an abundance of caution."

Seven members of the U.S. Congress -- five Republicans and two Democrats -- are currently in self-quarantine after coming into contact with persons infected with COVID-19. Six are with the House while the lone senator is Ted Cruz.

Republican members of the House in self-quarantine are Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, Rep. Paul Gozar, R-AZ and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-NC. The Democrats are Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA, and Rep. Julia Brownley, D-CA.