President Donald Trump on Friday announced that he along with the First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19, the President has since been hospitalized and is currently “doing very well,” as per White House physician Sean Conley.

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Saturday provided its first official update on the President’s condition since he was admitted to the hospital on Friday. 

However, a credible source cited by AFP paints a different picture, the source states “The President’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”

While it is not clear, as to when or from whom the President of the United States contracted the disease, a possible point of contact might have been Hope Hicks, the President’s trusted aide and senior advisor who holds a key position in the White House.

Hicks had shown signs of coronavirus when she accompanied the US President Donald Trump to Minnesota for a campaign speech on Wednesday and tested positive for the disease, on Thursday, as per AFP report.

Also Read: What happens if a US Presidential candidate exits the race?

Hope felt unwell after the campaign event in Minnesota on Wednesday night, she attempted to isolate on the Air Force One stated a National Public Radio report. Hope’s diagnosis forced the President to get tested for COVID-19, reported US media houses.

Now, rewinding the clock to September 26, Donald Trump and his White House entourage hosted a congregation to announce the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Guests from across the length and breadth of America, comingle and felicitate each other,  a moment that can be termed as “a victory” for the President, his third Supreme Court nomination. An indoor reception follows an outdoor ceremony at the Rose Garden.

As per BBC report, footage from the event showcases how COVID-19 guidelines were openly flouted. The seating arrangement wasn’t set six feet apart, people shook hands and exchanged pleasantries which included hugging.

Eight people who attended the ceremony have since tested positive for the coronavirus. The Supreme Court nominee who stood metres apart from Trump, however, hasn’t tested positive for the virus.

Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, however, does not jeopardize the process of selecting the Supreme Court nominee, he so desperately wanted to first track. While the President has already nominated Barrett, now her candidature will be formally evaluated by a Republican-dominated Senate. 

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has termed the coronavirus pandemic as the biggest obstacle standing in way of confirming Barrett’s candidature.

With two Republicans already opposed to the idea of electing a Supreme Court Judge ahead of the election and with Senator Mike Lee, Senator Thom Tillis testing positive for the virus, uncertainties over the confirmation hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee emerged.

Senate leader Mitch McConnell, however, quashed all such rumours and said that the Senate confirmation hearings would proceed as planned.

Despite the looming threat of the virus and President Trump’s diagnosis, Republicans have pledged to push for the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett.

Also Read: Next 48 hours critical for Donald Trump: Report

Republicans are also preparing for a pandemic-style, largely virtual confirmation hearing, as per US media reports.

Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senator has mentioned that Barrett’s nomination will be confirmed.

Republicans are now planning to conduct the confirmation hearing remotely. While the Democrats have protested to a virtual hearing, their lack of representation in the Senate has allowed the Republicans to override them.