A White House event is feared to be a superspreader as some people who attended have already tested positive for COVID-19, including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania.
The event was the unveiling of SCOTUS nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett that occurred on Saturday, September 26. Some of attendees including Trump, first lady Melania, and top aide Hope Hicks have already tested positive for coronavirus.
Utah Senator Mike Lee also announced on October 2 that he also tested positive. Soon, congressional staff and SCOTUS employees rush to COVID testing sites to get swabbed. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was pictured maskless at the White House event while chatting with guests, hugging, and kissing people.
While it is not yet confirmed whether the president and the others became infected during the White House event, officials are not disregarding the possibility.
Meanwhile, a White House Correspondents Association memo that was obtained by CNN stated that three members of the press also tested positive, pushing reporters to get tested as well. One reporter who tested positive began showing symptoms on Thursday, October 1.
He joined Trump aboard on Air Force One to a maskless rally in Pennsylvania on September 26. While the journalist and other reports had been wearing a mask, they had to gather around to hear Trump as he spoke for 10 minutes because of the loud noise on the aircraft, the members.
For months, reporters feared of an outbreak as they frequently interact with White House aides who were roaming around without masks. On Friday, October 2, even White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows did not wear a mask because he had tested negative for COVID.
Later that day, a third reporter tested positive after experiencing minor symptoms on September 30. He was at the White House's Rose Garden on September 26 and in the in-town pool vans and briefing room on September 27.
Air Force One and Marine One Deep Clean
Trump flew to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania aboard Air Force One to immediately after the event. Fearing that the aircraft could also be a vector for infection, the entire Air Force One and Marine One fleet will undergo deep clean and not be allowed to fly.
These include two customized Boeing 747 aircrafts, one of which was earlier used to carry the president before the results came out. These planes have shared spaces and tight quarters. Similarly, some Sikorsky helicopters used to transport Trump to Andrews Air Force Base were also grounded.
Trump announced his test results in the wee hours on October 2, then it was later revealed that Hicks also tested positive. The president was last seen maskless on the evening of October 1 as he returned from a New Jersey golf club fundraiser, which raised $5 million for his campaign. Trump is believed to be in contact with about 100 people while all future events were already been cancelled.
The President was reported to be lethargic on his way back from the fundraiser New Jersey event. He also fell asleep on Air Force One after attending a rally in Minnesota on October 1, which is very unusual for Trump who usually spends watching television and tweeting while on the aircraft.
This is owned by Tech Times
Written by CJ Robles
