Possible Contagion: White House Reporter Tests Positive for COVID-19
A member of the White House Correspondents' Association, who attended the briefings this week tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The White House Correspondents' Associaton President Jon Karl said on Thursday that a reporter, who attended the White House briefings on Monday and Wednesday afternoons tested positive for COVID-19.
In a note, Karl said the reporter was asymptomatic. He also added that the reporter wore a mask during the briefings and while inside the White House complex.
Report about the White House Correspondents' Association's member now raises concern for a possible virus spread. Most notably for the staff and other reporters, who were working in those days.
The press conference on Monday and Wednesday was presided by Press Secretary Kayleigh MacEnany, according to a report published by Reuters.
It can also be remembered in one of the reports of Latin Post McEnany claimed that she's regularly being tested for the virus, and she firmly believed that she was not posing any threat to pass the virus.
Meanwhile, the association is now doing contact tracing for individuals, who had been in close contact with the reporter that tested positive for the virus.
In a published report by the Deadline, Karl said "we are contacting those the individual recalled being in closer contact."
He also added that the reporter did not spend time working outside the White House and was only in the briefing room and not elsewhere in their workspace. However, Karl chose not to disclose the name of the reporter.
Since the pandemic began, limiting the number of people who can attend the daily briefings was one of the measures that the association did to avoid the possible transmission or spread of the virus.
The briefing was also held in the West Wing in an effort not only to limit the number of persons attending the presentation, but also to limit potential exposure.
Another measure that the association did is a pool rotation of reporters attending the briefings that became more frequent when McEnany became the new Press Secretary,
The association also said that all reporters, who participated in the West Wing presentation including those events held outside or in the Rose Garden, have been wearing masks.
Moreover, the White House Correspondents' Association is advising some of their members to work remotely. This was due to the tight quarters of the White House workspaces.
Meanwhile, a report about the reporter's infection, who attended the briefings comes as President Donald Trump resumes his travel and events schedule, despite the concern that Trump will expose himself, his staff, and other essential persons to a higher risk of contracting the virus, according to MSN News.
It can be remembered that nine of Trump's campaign staff in Tulsa, Oklahoma, tested positive for the coronavirus last month. In May, Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, and one of Trump's valets also tested positive for the virus.
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