The White House in Washington, D.C., April 8, 2020. /AP
The White House in Washington, D.C., April 8, 2020. /AP
A member of the US Navy who serves as one of President Donald Trump's personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, CNN has reported, raising concerns about the President's possible exposure to the virus.
In a statement, the White House confirmed CNN's reporting that one of the President's valets had tested positive.
"We were recently notified by the White House Medical Unit that a member of the United States Military, who works on the White House campus, has tested positive for Coronavirus," deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement. "The President and the Vice President have since tested negative for the virus and they remain in great health."
According to CNN, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and the senior staffers who regularly interact with them are still being tested weekly for coronavirus. The White House is continuing to use the rapid Abbott Labs test, which provide results in about 15 minutes. Several officials who have received the test said it's often administered in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the West Wing on the White House grounds. A medical official swabs the staffer's nostrils and informs them that they'll be notified within the next several minutes if it's positive.
The valets are members of an elite military unit dedicated to the White House and often work very close to the President and first family. Trump was upset when he was informed Wednesday that the valet had tested positive, a source told CNN, and he was subsequently tested again by the White House physician.
Source: CNN