“This evening we were notified that a member of the Office of the Vice President tested positive for the Coronavirus. Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual,” stated Katie Miller.
“Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines.”
Pence has been the Trump administration’s level particular person on coordinating the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Whereas the staffer is the closest confirmed case to Pence that’s publicly identified, it is not his first potential brush with the virus.
A minimum of two folks examined optimistic for the coronavirus after attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s Coverage Convention in Washington, which was attended by Pence in addition to a number of lawmakers and aides.
Each Pence and President Donald Trump attended the Conservative Political Motion Convention final month, the place a high-profile attendee additionally examined optimistic for coronavirus. Interactions with that attendee despatched a number of Republican lawmakers into self-quarantine within the weeks following the convention.
Learn extra: U.S. president Trump assessments unfavourable for coronavirus
There is no such thing as a indication that both Trump or Pence “met with or were in close proximity to the attendee” after attending the convention, White Home press secretary Stephanie Grisham stated in a press release earlier this month.
As of Monday, Pence had not been examined for the virus.
As the top of the coronavirus job power, the vice chairman has maintained pretty easy relationships with the Democratic governors of states hit exhausting by the virus and projected a picture of calm and group in his near-daily appearances on the White Home briefing room lectern to replace the nation on the duty power’s efforts.
Pence’s job power nonetheless faces critical obstacles. The federal authorities nonetheless doesn’t have a deal with on the size of the pandemic within the US, attributable to early missteps and inadequate testing. Hospitals are starting to precise critical considerations about shortages of essential medical tools, from protecting gear to ventilators.
Current instances on Capitol Hill have added to fears of group unfold of coronavirus amongst Washington politicians.
Coronavirus: US Vice President Mike Pence’s workplace staffer assessments optimistic
