U.S. Vice President Mike Pence denied a Bloomberg report that he has gone into self-isolation after his press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for COVID-19. The statement from V.P. office spokesperson Devin O’Malley states that Pence "is not in quarantine," even though Bloomberg only claimed he was self-isolating. Either way, Pence plans on being at the White House Monday.
"Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine," the statement reads. "Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow."
Pence reportedly tested negative as recently as Saturday. Three members of the Coronavirus Task Force have gone into self-isolation in as many days. On Sunday, NIAID director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, became the latest person to take the precautionary measure, joining FDA chief Stephen Hahn, and CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield.
A NIAID spokeswoman said that Fauci tested negative. He was already "considered to be at relatively low risk based on the degree of his exposure." Fauci will go through a "modified quarantine," which will allow him to go into his office, but he will be the only person admitted inside.
Before departing D.C. on Friday to attend a roundtable discussion at the headquarters of the supermarket chain Hy-Vee in Iowa, Pence was made aware of Miller’s positive test result. Six members of his staff were forced to disembark Air Force Two prior to takeoff. Iowa governor Kim Reynolds, who visited the White House on Wednesday, is also contemplating self-isolation since she also spent time in close vicinity to Miller.
Miller’s diagnosis comes days after a member of the U.S. Navy who serves as a personal valet to Donald Trump also tested positive. Trump acknowledged on Fox & Friends that the two were in the same room when he started showing symptoms on Tuesday, but has been tested twice, both of which have come back negative.
