Covid 19 coronavirus: White House shaken by new virus cases in Mike Pence’s office

A coronavirus outbreak has hit the White House less than two weeks before the November election.

Earlier today, the White House revealed that a senior staff member had tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, sparking fears from a group close to the president.

The White House issued a statement informing the public that Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, had tested positive.

Bloomberg said Marty Obst, Pence’s senior political adviser, had also contracted the virus.

The New York Times reported that “up to five” people working in Pence’s office had tested positive.

The vice president has already been examined and confirmed not to have contracted the virus, the White House said.

“Today, Marc Short, the vice president’s chief of staff, tested positive for COVID-19, began the quarantine, and assisted in the contact tracing process,” Pence press secretary Devin O’Malley said in a statement.

“Vice President Pence and Ms. Pence tested negative for Covid-19 today and are still in good health.

“While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.”

The news adds to the growing group of coronaviruses in the White House.

On October 8, the American Broadcasting Company reported that 34 people had been infected, according to an internal memo sent to staff.

That number is now much higher.

In addition to President Trump contracting the virus earlier this month, so have his aide Stephen Miller and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Marc Short is now added to that list.

As revealed in the press release, Pence will not allow the diagnosis to get in the way of the performance of his duties before the presidential election, within nine days.

Pence leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force, leaving many wondering how seriously he’s taking the disease if he’s willing to jump right into the thick of things with two confirmed cases in his inner circle.

These concerns arise just days after Trump was videotaped driving his limousine while still an active case of the coronavirus.

That raised serious concerns that the president was not treating the virus as a deadly disease.

The coronavirus has claimed the lives of 225,000 Americans so far. Another 8.64 million have been diagnosed with the disease this year.