Donald Trump tests negative for coronavirus

15 March 2020, 09:27 | Updated: 15 March 2020, 09:34

By Nick Hardinges

@NHardinges

US President Donald Trump has tested negative for the Covid-19 strain of coronavirus, the White House physician has confirmed.

The US leader was forced to take a test after meeting with a Brazilian delegation, some of whom later tested positive for the disease, at his Florida resort.

However, on Saturday, his personal physician Sean Conley confirmed Mr Trump did not have the virus: "This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative."

Among those to have met with the US chief was Fabio Wajngarten, an aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Mr Wajngarten was later diagnosed with Covid-19.

Mr Bolsonaro was also rumoured to have tested positive for the disease, however he later announced his test also came back negative.

"One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, the president remains symptom-free," Mr Conley added.

Mr Trump, 73, "decided to take the test" following a press conference on Friday in which he faced a barrage of questions about his well-being.

US advice suggests people self-isolate for 14 days if they have come into contact with someone who has been confirmed to have the illness.

The country has more than 2,700 confirmed infections, with 54 deaths.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the US leader on the phone about the steps being taken in Britain to tackle coronavirus.

It followed the president's decision to extend the Europe-wide travel ban to both British and Irish citizens. The new restrictions will come into force early on Tuesday, our time.

Mr Trump declared a national state of emergency on Friday, meaning $50 billion (£40 billion) will be put towards fighting the pandemic.

The US leader had previously called the Covid-19 outbreak "a new hoax" that was being used by the Democrats to undermine his presidency.

Elsewhere, the wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for coronavirus. The Spanish government confirmed Begoña Gómez and her husband were staying at the prime minister's residence at La Moncloa in Madrid and were both doing well.

Spain has become Europe's second-worst-hit country after Italy and has since been put on lockdown.