Vice President Pence and his wife tested negative, a spokesperson said. (File photo)
Washington:
Vice President of the United States Chief of Staff Mike Pence tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, said a spokesman, the latest in a list of figures related to the Donald Trump administration to do so.
Marc Short began the quarantine and was assisting in the contract tracking process, Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement.
“Vice President Pence and Ms Pence tested negative for Covid-19 today and are in good health,” he added.
Pence, who has been campaigning ahead of the Nov.3 election, will maintain his current schedule in consultation with White House doctors, the spokesman said.
An increase in Covid-19 cases led the United States to hit a record number of daily infections for the second day in a row on Saturday, with nearly 89,000 new cases.
A list of people connected to the White House contracted the virus, including President Trump, who was hospitalized before recovering.
Trump has downplayed the severity of the virus and called for businesses to reopen so the economy recovers.
Joe Biden, his Democratic opponent in upcoming polls, has repeatedly criticized Trump’s handling of the health crisis.
The virus has claimed more than 224,000 American lives.
.
