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Pence spokesperson Devin O’Malley said the vice president “will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine.”
“Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow,” O’Malley said in the statement.
An official said there is extreme sensitivity inside the White House at the current state of affairs with officials recognizing the contradiction in telling states to reopen while the White House enhances protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The official said Pence’s schedule will probably be on the lighter side in the coming days, but that he’s not doing a full self-quarantine.
“She’s a wonderful young woman, Katie, she tested very good for a long period of time and then all of a sudden today she tested positive,” Trump said during a meeting with Republican members of Congress at the White House.
The news of Miller’s positive test has left everyone in the West Wing of the White House genuinely nervous, one White House source previously told CNN. The source said Miller’s nature is to communicate in person so she makes lots of in-person contacts during her day-to-day work.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, however, have both tested negative for the virus, according to government spokespeople. They are not planning to self-quarantine as of now.
HHS spokesperson Caitlan Oakley said Azar “will follow the advice of his physicians at the White House Medical Unit.”
And, a spokesperson for the Surgeon General said, “Surgeon General Adams was last tested for COVID-19 on Friday, May 8, and the results were negative. He was not in contact with anyone who has tested positive and at this time, has had no known exposure to the virus.
“Dr. Adams already participates in most meetings and events virtually, and will continue to do so. If the White House Medical Unit recommends any changes in Dr. Adams’ practices, he will of course comply.”
An HHS spokesperson told CNN Sunday evening that Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir is also not planning to self-quarantine.
Giroir is the federal official coordinating testing efforts and has attended some of the White House coronavirus task force meetings. He hasn’t been to the White House since May 5, the spokesperson said.
Trump’s mood
In conversations this weekend, Trump has expressed concern that aides contracting coronavirus would undercut his message that the outbreak is waning and states should begin reopening, according to a person who spoke to him.
Trump voiced frustration that two White House staffers tested positive for coronavirus and has asked why his valets weren’t ordered to wear masks before this week, according to the person.
Trump believes an economic rebound will only come when governors decide to lift restrictions and is concerned at any signs the virus is resurgent.
At the same time, the President has told people he doesn’t want to be near anyone who hasn’t been tested and has bristled when coming into contact with some people at the White House, according to the person who spoke to him.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
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