Trump COVID-19 illness possibly “severe”

The S&P 500 rose 1.5 percent last week, ending a four-week losing streak.

However, the index fell 1.0 percent on Friday after news that US President Donald Trump had tested positive for COVID-19

Some doctors think that the President's condition may be severe, noting that he has been started on dexamethasone.

“We give dexamethasone to patients who require supplemental oxygen,” said Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr Daniel McQuillen, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, said that “the news conference description suggested the President has more severe illness than the generally upbeat picture painted”.

The President's illness comes as nine US states reported record increases in COVID-19 cases over the last seven days.

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, permanent job losses are poised to climb.

And it is a similar story in Europe, as countries report a surge in infections and renewed restrictions.

After reporting a daily record of 16,972 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, France announced that Paris is to be placed on maximum COVID-19 alert, with bars to close for two weeks from Tuesday and restaurants to put in place new sanitary protocols to stay open.