At least 3 businesses in North Carolina forced to close for ‘deep cleaning’ following Ivanka Trump visit
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06 October 2020
Trump wanted to tap daughter Ivanka as his running mate in 2016: Rick Gates
Days after mocking former Vice President Joe Biden for wearing a mask during the presidential debate, Donald Trump tweeted he tested positive for COVID-19. Trump has continuously downplayed the severity of the virus and who is susceptible. Having denied the importance of social distancing and mask-wearing, it only serves him right to go be infected. But while Trump shared the news of his test results Friday, days before he fundraised and made visits across state lines as part of his presidential campaign, potentially putting thousands at risk.
But Donald wasn't the only Trump family member who made local visits; Ivanka Trump visited three North Carolina businesses less than 24 hours prior to the announcement as well. The news of Trump and the first lady testing positive has resulted in at least three businesses to close for "deep cleaning," including one that reportedly houses immunocompromised or individuals with Down's Syndrome, the Daily Beast reported.
Holy Angels, the local nonprofit that owns the three businesses Ivanka visited, announced on Facebook Friday that the Cherubs Cage, Cotton Candy Factory, and Bliss Gallery would close for the day in order to sanitize the spaces. According to theCharlotte Business Journal, Holy Angels provides a number of services including medical assistance, housing, education, and employment opportunities for disabled individuals.
"As a precaution, we will be performing a deep cleaning of Cherubs Café, Cotton Candy Factory and Bliss Gallery today. While our protocols have always exceeded the CDC Guidelines, we want to ensure the safety of our employees and customers," Holy Angels posted on Facebook, after learning of Trump's diagnosis. The organization added that they voluntarily chose to close to "conduct this deep cleaning" although they were not required to. "When we reopen on Saturday, rest assured that we have done our very best to protect our loyal customers and our dedicated employees," Holy Angels said.
But while Holy Angels seemed comfortable enough to reopen so quickly despite the potential risks associated with Ivanka's visit, others felt differently. "She went to all of those places knowing that two people in her innermost circle, including her own father who she'd been around with no mask, tested positive for covid," comedian Fortune Feimster tweeted of Ivanka's visits. The tweet has since been deleted.
In a statement Saturday, Trump's doctor expressed the president was in day three of his illness raising concern that both Trump and his family knew of the illness and gave it no concern while going about their daily lives. Following backlash of his comments, Trump's doctor conveniently tried to correct his earlier statement adding that Trump just learned of his diagnosis Friday.
White House officials shared Friday that both Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, tested negative for coronavirus but whether the couple took a test prior to their trip to North Carolina is unclear. According to Penn Medicine, depending on when you take the test could impact your chances of getting a negative result despite having the virus. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also stated that a person has the ability to transmit the virus during a time period where a test can not detect the infection.
According to NBC News affiliate WCNC, journalists who covered Ivanka's visit to the Holy Angels establishments received a call from the White House Saturday confirming that a member of the press who covered the event tested positive for COVID-19. This news increases the number of possible exposures as a result of Ivanka's visit to North Carolina. According to WCNC, almost everyone present during Ivanka's visit was wearing a mask, however, it is important to note that Tuesday during the presidential debate Trump's family and supporters including Ivanka took off their masks during the event.
After denying the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and failing to implement a national plan to fight it, members of the Trump administration who test positive for COVID-19 continue to grow.