Mediator of The Presidential Debate Says Due To Trump’s Late Arrival, He Did Not Take A COVID-19 Test

On Friday, Chris Wallace, who moderated the first presidential debate between Republican presidential candidate and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Trump did not take a test prior to the debate because he showed up late.

According to Newsweek, before the debate, Biden and Trump did not shake hands, nor were they required to wear masks.

The debate took place at the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University Campus in Cleveland, Ohio. The clinic also served as health advisers for the event and recommended protocols to help the spread of the mitigation.

On Friday, Trump announced that he and Melania Trump confirmed they both had COVID-19. Wallace told Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer there was an “honor system” between the two campaigns when it came to being tested for the virus prior to the debate.

The mediator said Trump nor his entourage “couldn’t be tested by the clinic” because they didn’t arrive on time.

“So for them to get tested, there wouldn’t have been enough time to have the test and have the debate at 9:00 that night,” Wallace continued. “They didn’t show up until 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 in the afternoon. Yeah, there was an honor system when it came to the people that came into the hall from the two campaigns.”

Cleveland Clinic released a statement on Friday that each person granted access into the debate hall tested negative for COVID-19.

“Individuals traveling with both candidates, including the candidates themselves, had been tested and tested negative by their respective campaigns.”

Biden and Trump’s wives joined them at the end of the debate. However, Jill Biden did have a mask on when congratulating her husband, but Melania Trump didn’t.

Biden has since tweeted that both he and his wife have since tested negative for the virus. “I hope this serves as a reminder,” Biden wrote. “Wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands.”

After Trump’s adviser, Hope Hick tested positive for Covid-19, Trump told the public he would quarantine while waiting to get his COVID-19 test results. It was Friday that Trump informed the public that he and his wife received confirmation that they had contracted the virus.

“We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately,” Trump tweeted. “We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Newsweek reports, Trump has been given a single dose of Regeneron, a therapeutic “polyclonal antibody cocktail.” He is also taking zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin, and aspirin.