A White House valet has tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump’s personal valet is part of a military unit that works with the president and the first family.
President Trump confirmed he has had little contact with the infected valet. Trump was notified of the valet’s test result on Wednesday and the president was again tested for the virus, which was negative.
It’s unclear if the valet is symptomatic.
The president and Vice President Mike Pence are each tested several times a week for the potentially deadly virus. White House staff and Trump’s cabinet members are also tested weekly, but new guidelines were issued on Thursday to test White House staffers daily.
A former CDC official urged President Trump to quarantine himself for 14 days since someone who works close to him has tested positive.
Dr. Cyrus Shahpar recommended that the president “quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the confirmed case.”
Dr. Shahpar told CNN:
“We all don’t want to transmit disease. In this case, as a high visibly person, I think he should set an example and really go into that quarantine of 14 days. And don’t put too much stock into one negative test. It takes time to develop, you know, enough virus to test positive. So, one test today doesn’t necessarily mean that you know, over the next few days, it may not be something different.”
