Coronavirus strikes White House, Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary tests positive

Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary has the coronavirus, the White House said, making her the person who works at the White House complex known to check positive for the virus in the week.

President Donald Trump, who publicly identified the affected Pence aide, said he wasn’t worried about the virus spreading within the White House. Nonetheless, officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex.

Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller, who tested positive Friday, had been in recent contact with Pence but not with the president. She is married to Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser. The White House had no immediate discuss whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working within the White House.

Katie Miller had tested negative Thursday, each day before her positive result.

This is why the entire concept of tests isn’t necessarily great, Trump said. The tests are perfect but something can happen between a test where it’s good then something happens.

The positive test for the senior Pence aide came at some point after White House officials confirmed that a member of the military serving together of Trump’s valets had tested positive for COVID-19.

Six people that had been in touch with Miller were scheduled to fly with Pence on Friday to Des Moines , Iowa, on Air Force Two. They were far-away from the flight just before it took off, consistent with a senior administration official.

None of these people were exhibiting symptoms, but were asked to deplane in order that they might be tested out of an abundance of caution, a senior administration official told reporters traveling with Pence.

All six later tested negative, the White House said.

The official said staffs within the West Wing are tested regularly but much of Pence’s staff which works nearby within the Executive office block are tested less frequently. Katie Miller wasn’t on the plane and had not been scheduled to get on the trip.