Hagedorn tests negative for Covid-19 after flying with Trump on Air Force One

First District Congressman Jim Hagedorn has tested negative for Covid-19, his office said Friday afternoon.

Hagedorn’s test was conducted hours after President Donald Trump revealed that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid. On Wednesday, Hagedorn and two other Minnesota congressmen traveled with Trump on Air Force One to and from the president’s rally in Duluth.

"This morning, I was tested for COVID-19 out of extreme precaution after consulting with the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress,” Hagedorn, a Republican, said in a written statement. “The test came back ‘negative’ and I am feeling well. President Trump, our wonderful First Lady and all dealing with illness remain in my prayers.”

Earlier Friday, Hagedorn’s office sent out a media release stating that since the congressman “had not had close contact with the president for a sustained period,” he had been advised by the physician to continue his official official duties, such as voting on the House floor.

Meantime, as of late Friday, other prominent Minnesota Republicans who attended Wednesday’s rally in Duluth are reported to be in quarantine awaiting their test results.

In an interview Friday with MPR News, however, Dr. Michael Osterholm, infectious disease expect from the University of Minnesota, warned that those who were exposed Wednesday should not view the early test results as a substitute for quarantining.

“There is no get out of jail card for with one test,” said Dr. Osterholm. “If they were exposed in the last two to three days they might not actually come down with this infection and be test positive for up to 14 days... we've had onsets late, after seven or eight days, and test positives after seven or eight days, so having a test in those three days after you've been exposed is almost meaningless.”

President Trump first made public his test results early Friday. Hours earlier it was announced that White House Adviser Hope Hicks, who traveled with the president on Air Force One, had received a positive Covid test. Trump, according to reports, is experiencing a cough and low-grade fever and has received a single infusion of an experimental antibody treatment. He is expected to remain at Walter Reed medical center through the weekend.

“As of this afternoon, the president remains fatigued but in good spirits,” his doctor wrote in a memo.

Trump’s Duluth rally this week was attended by about 3,000 people. The Minnesota Department of Health is now advising anyone in attendance to get tested for the coronavirus.

Update: Hagedorn said Tuesday, October 6 that he has again tested negative for Covid and is back campaigning full time.

Cover photo: Hagedorn, left, with fellow Minnesota Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber / via Hagedorn’s Facebook page