Any person "in close proximity" to President Trump or Vice President Pence will be tested for the novel coronavirus starting Friday, the White House said.
“As the Physician to the President and White House Operations continue to protect the health and safety of the President and Vice President, starting today anyone who is expected to be in close proximity to either of them will be administered a COVID-19 test to evaluate for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers status to limit inadvertent transmission,” deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Friday.
The individuals will receive the same rapid test that Trump referenced during a press briefing on Thursday.
The new measure marks an increased effort by the White House to prevent Trump and Pence from coming in contact with individuals who may be infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, particularly those who have contracted the virus but are not immediately showing symptoms.
The White House has already instituted temperature checks for reporters entering the complex and doctors have also taken the temperature of reporters before the daily coronavirus task force briefings begin. Trump has limited his travel, forgoing campaign and fundraising events as the virus has spread across the country.
Replies