The announcement that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 has been the story to discuss throughout the country, including in Butler County.

The heads of the county Democratic and Republican committees, plus a UPMC doctor, shared their thoughts on the situation with the Butler Eagle Friday.

Trump appeared in public Friday evening for first time since being stricken by COVID-19, boarding his Marine One helicopter for a flight to a military hospital. Trump walked out of the White House and gave a thumbs-up but did not speak.

The White House said the visit of “a few days” to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was precautionary and that Trump would continue to work from the hospital's presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties. Al Lindsay, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee, stressed Trump, 74, has not been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“All we know is that he has tested positive,” Lindsay said.

He said because of the many unknowns associated with the virus, only time will tell if the president becomes ill.

“Experts say it could mean that because of Trump's age, he is in a high-risk category, or it could mean no symptoms at all,” Lindsay said. “The fact that you test positive doesn't in any way indicate what your prognosis is.”

Trump will not be on the campaign trail, at least for the next few weeks, he said.

“To that extent, I think his campaign is made more difficult,” Lindsay said. “Knowing Mr. Trump, I think he'll find a way to get his message out.”

He said he is very optimistic about Trump's recovery.

“He seems like a pretty tough guy, and the statistics are beginning to show a very high rate of recovery of even people in his age group,” Lindsay said.

He was asked if Trump could have taken any steps to prevent the positive test.

“If he had stayed in his basement and not had any contact with anybody and worn a mask, as Mr. Biden has done, perhaps he wouldn't have contracted it,” Lindsay said, “but that's not his style.”

Catherine Lalonde, chairwoman of the county Democratic Committee, said she would never wish anyone ill, but said Trump has downplayed recommendations to wear a mask.

“He has done everything in his power to work against infection control,” Lalonde said.

She said Trump should spend his downtime thinking about how many people or how many of his staff he could have infected.

“There have been more than 200,000 deaths,” Lalonde said. “Not all were preventable, but a lot were.”

She also criticized Trump's claim that only those with underlying conditions suffer serious consequences from COVID-19.

She said 100 million Americans have underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes and autoimmune disease.

Young people who get the virus are finding themselves suffering from long-term physical effects, Lalonde said.

“It is not only irresponsible for him to have told people not to wear masks, but if he had a conscience, it should be bothering him,” Lalonde said. “That goes for our Republican state senators and commissioners too. They are fighting against common-sense infection control measures.”

She said a handful of countries where COVID-19 has been defeated have relied heavily on the mask-wearing protocol.

“Now that the weather is cooler, people are going to be inside more,” Lalonde said. “(Cases) are just going to rise if people don't commit to wearing a mask.”

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., released a statement Friday morning regarding the news of the Trumps testing positive.

“COVID-19 is a serious illness that has impacted millions of American families,” Casey said. “I wish President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump a speedy recovery following their positive test. I will keep them in my prayers.”

Dr. Sam Daisley, vice president of medical affairs at UPMC Horizon in Mercer County, said while time will tell whether the Trumps become ill, he feels the president will be an asymptomatic carrier.

“If he wasn't getting tested every day, he wouldn't know he had it,” Daisley said. “He's in good health and I don't believe he has clinical issues.”

He said while Trump is slightly overweight, he is unaware of the president having high blood pressure or taking immunosuppressant medications, which Daisley said are among the most dangerous conditions for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Time will tell, but odds are if he gets anything, it would be a low symptomology type thing and the same with his wife,” Daisley said.

Daisley also cited Trump's claim that he has been taking preventive medications, which Daisley said could help him avoid illness.

Regarding whether Trump could have done anything to prevent testing positive for COVID-19, Daisley said it is inherent in the president's job to interact with many people.

“I think he was just doing the duties of his job,” Daisley said.

Daisley said even if Americans wash their hands for 20 seconds, wear a mask and follow social-distancing guidelines, “there is no guarantee you're not going to get it.”

Lisa Lombardo, director of public relations at UPMC, then interjected that masking does “absolutely” help stem the spread of COVID-19.

Daisley replied the Trumps' positive test reinforces that everyone needs to do the same things regarding coronavirus guidelines.

“This is a very real disease and a very real danger to people, and not something to be taken lightly,” Daisley said.