[ad_1]
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States Secret Service, which protects President Donald Trump, President-elect Joe Biden and the White House, was affected by a Covid-19 outbreak, US media reported on Friday (November 13) .
The Washington Post said that more than 130 Secret Service agents were infected by coronavirus or quarantined due to contact with infected people.
The outbreak came after numerous agents traveled to campaign rallies with Trump, where many officials and most attendees were left without a mask.
It also follows several Trump-led White House events in the past three weeks, including an election night party on Nov. 3, where most of those present were also not wearing masks.
Subsequently, several officials reported positive tests for Covid-19, including Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows.
The New York Times said that at least 30 uniformed Secret Service officers had tested positive in recent weeks in a “sustained” outbreak, and about 60 have been told to self-quarantine.
It was the latest in several waves of infection to hit the service since the pandemic hit the United States.
Several Secret Service agents were forced to self-quarantine after a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June.
The same thing happened again after a July speech to sheriffs in Tampa, Florida, led to positive tests for Covid-19.
The service also had an outbreak at its training academy in Maryland.
The secret service has around 7,000 employees, including uniformed agents who monitor the White House and presidential events, and famous civilian bodyguards dressed in suits who stand near the president, vice president, president-elect and others, pledging to “take a bullet “for your position.
When asked about the reports, Secret Service spokeswoman Julie McMurray said they will not release any details about the Covid-19 infections “for privacy and operational security reasons.” “The health and safety of our workforce is paramount,” he added.
“We continually assess the requirements necessary to operate during the pandemic and ensure that we remain fully prepared and staffed to carry out our critical integrated investigation and protection missions, none of which have been degraded by the pandemic,” he said.
[ad_2]
