US President Trump tests negative for coronavirus

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump tested negative for the novel coronavirus, according to a memorandum released by the White House physician Sean Conley Saturday night.

"Last night after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed," Conley wrote in the memorandum. "This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative."

Conley noted that Trump "remains symptom-free" one week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

"I have been in daily contact with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and White House Coronavirus Task Force, and we are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation," said the White House physician.

During a press conference Friday in the Rose Garden, reporters had asked Trump why he was still not tested after coming into contact with a member of the Brazilian delegation who had tested positive for the virus.

At a White House press briefing earlier in the day, Trump confirmed he has been tested for the virus.

Out of "an abundance of caution," the White House has also begun checking the temperatures of anyone in close contact with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Saturday.

The United States reported 2,726 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday night with at least 54 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.