The White House on Monday directed all people entering the West Wing, where the daily operations of President Donald Trump’s administration are carried out, to wear masks after two aides tested positive for the coronavirus, administration officials said.
The White House on Monday directed all people entering the West Wing, where the daily operations of President Donald Trump’s administration are carried out, to wear masks after two aides tested positive for the coronavirus, administration officials said.
The new guidelines, released in a memo to the president’s staff on Monday afternoon, reflect a tightening of procedures at the highest levels of the U.S. government over fears that Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence could be exposed to the virus.
Trump’s military valet and Pence’s press secretary both tested positive for the coronavirus last week.
The 73-year-old president said on Monday he did not think those cases suggested the White House system had broken down.
“I felt no vulnerability whatsoever,” Trump said, adding he felt the situation was controlled “very well.”
Still, the president said he would discuss maintaining some distance from Pence, perhaps by communicating with him by phone, for a period of time. Pence worked at the White House on Monday, but did not attend a news conference held in the Rose Garden. Officials who attended wore masks, and speakers used a different podium from the one used by Trump.
Trump himself did not wear a mask while speaking, and ended the briefing after a terse standoff with a reporter.
WATCH | Trump abruptly ends COVID-19 news conference: