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WASHINGTON (REUTERS, AFP) – The White House has directed staff working in the West Wing, where the daily operations of the administration of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, are carried out to wear masks at all times in the building, except when alone. desks, a senior administration official confirmed Monday (May 11).
The new guidelines, released in a memorandum to the president’s staff on Monday afternoon, reflect a tightening of procedures at the highest levels of the US government. USA For fear that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence may be exposed to the virus.
As Trump’s valet and Pence’s press secretary tested positive for the deadly coronavirus last week, pressure is mounting for the White House to take additional steps to protect the health of the country’s 73-year-old president.
Trump has balked at wearing a mask himself and hasn’t put it on in public, though he said he tried some backstage during a visit to a mask factory in Arizona last week.
The president is in the age group considered to be at high risk for complications from the coronavirus, which has killed tens of thousands of people in the United States alone and devastated countries and economies around the world.
Trump said Monday that he did not believe those cases suggested that the White House system had broken down.
“I didn’t feel any vulnerability,” Trump said, adding that he felt the situation was under control “very well.”
Still, the president said he would discuss keeping some distance from Mr. Pence, perhaps by contacting him by phone, for a period of time.
Pence worked Monday at the White House, but did not attend a press conference held in the Rose Garden.
The White House said last week that it was taking precautions for people close to Trump and Pence, who have resumed their trips outside of Washington. The two men are screened for the virus daily, and close associates are also tested daily.
Officials in attendance wore masks and speakers used a different podium than the one Trump used.
“In addition to social distancing, daily monitoring of temperature and symptom history, hand sanitizer, and periodic deep cleaning of all workspaces, every staff member close to the President and Vice President is tested daily by Covid -19, as well as any other guests, “White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.
ABC News first reported on the memo, which also said unnecessary visits from other parts of the White House complex to the West Wing area, which includes the Oval Office and workspace for senior advisers, are discouraged.
Officials working near the president have undergone coronavirus screening, but previously did not wear masks on a regular basis.
“Common sense has finally prevailed,” said a senior administration official.
After Pence spokeswoman Ms Katie Miller tested positive for the virus last week, Trump was asked if people in the West Wing would start wearing masks.
He replied that people were already doing it, but that he and his guests had not worn masks that day, and the west wing staff was also not wearing them.
Trump said Monday that Pence has tested negative for coronavirus. He also suggested that Pence was quarantined after his press secretary tested positive, although he did not say so directly.
“I would say he and I will talk about it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It tested negative, so we have to understand that, but it comes in contact with a lot of people.”
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