In an exclusive interview by phone with Fox News’ “Hannity” show Thursday night, President Donald Trump confirmed a story that had been circulating in the media for several hours: one of his aides, Hope Hicks, has tested positive for COVID-19.

He told the host:

“She did test positive. I just heard about this. She tested positive. She’s a hard worker, a lot of masks, so she wears masks a lot. But she tested positive. Then I just went out with a test. So, we’ll see. The First Lady just went out with a test also.

So, whether we quarantine or whether we have it, I don’t know. You know, it’s hard: when you’re with soldiers, when you’re with airmen, when you’re with the Marines. I’m with the police officers, so much. And when they come over to you, it’s very hard to say, ‘Stay back, stay back.’ You know, it’s a tough kind of a situation. It’s a terrible thing.

I just went for a test, and we’ll see what happens. Who knows? You know Hope very well. She’s fantastic, and she’s done a great job. But, it’s very, very hard, when you’re with people from the military and law enforcement, and they come over to you, and they want to hug you and they want to kiss you. Because we really have done a good job for them. You get close, and things happen.”

The president also responded to Sean Hannity’s question on how therapeutics and vaccines for the China virus are coming along:

“I think the vaccines are coming quickly. I do think things are somewhat political. They’d like to do it. Even the drug companies, they’ve dealt with these people a long time. I think they’d like to do it after the election, even if it’s a couple of days. But, the fact is, the vaccines are coming out.

The therapeutics are coming out, and they’re coming out really good. Regeneron and other companies are great. Eli Lilly. We’ll have to see. The survival rate is so much better now that it was. You’ve seen those numbers. I guess, 95 percent, or something like that.”

Then Pres. Trump circled back to when he expects to learn the results of his and the First Lady’s COVID-19 tests:

“I’ll get my test back either tonight or tomorrow morning. But, I spend a lot of time with Hope and so does the First Lady.”

In a tweet, the president confirmed he and the First Lady are beginning to quarantine, as they wait for the results:

Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020

You can watch his full remarks on the situation in the video below, via Fox News: