Biden hits the campaign trail after negative test for COVID-19

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said President Donald Trump's coronavirus diagnosis is a "bracing reminder" that the pandemic needs to be taken seriously, as he campaigned on Friday in the battleground state of Michigan. He implicitly criticized the Republican president, who has played down the deadliness of the virus, frequently eschews masks, and has held huge campaign rallies with little social distancing.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said President Donald Trump's coronavirus diagnosis is a "bracing reminder" that the pandemic needs to be taken seriously, as he campaigned on Friday in the battleground state of Michigan. Speaking at a union hall in Grand Rapids hours after testing negative twice for the coronavirus, Biden said he and his wife, Jill Biden, were praying that Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, had a swift and full recovery.

But Biden also urged all Americans to wear masks to slow the spread of the disease. He implicitly criticized the Republican president, who has played down the deadliness of the virus, frequently eschews masks, and has held huge campaign rallies with little social distancing. "Be patriotic," Biden said. "It's not about being a tough guy. It's about doing your part."

The diagnosis of Trump, who is experiencing mild symptoms and will be off the trail indefinitely while isolating at the White House, brings the coronavirus back into the spotlight a little more than four weeks before the Nov. 3 election.