Attorney General Barr chooses not to quarantine
Attorney General William Barr is choosing not to quarantine after recently coming in close contact with members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle who have tested positive for COVID-19, including former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.
Conway is among at least seven people who have contracted the virus after attending a Rose Garden event Sept. 26 in which Trump nominated Judge Amy Barrett to the Supreme Court. Barr, who was seen leaving the White House Friday night by photojournalists, also attended the nomination event, where he sat in the front row and was among those tested by the White House for COVID-19.
Following Trump’s announcement, Barr and Conway chatted in close proximity, hardly standing the recommended 6 feet apart, for an extended period of time. Both were seen not wearing masks. Barr also
shook hands with other guests, touched his face and mingled among the crowd.
Barr then traveled to Oklahoma for a tribal justice event last week and returned to Washington.
Trump cabinet members were tested for coronavirus after the President announced early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19.
Barr tested negative Friday morning, was not experiencing any symptoms and was last in the same room as the president Sept. 26, according to the Justice Department. Barr also had attended one meeting at the White House on Thursday before news of the president ’ s C OV I D - 1 9 test broke.
Asked Saturday why Barr isn’t quarantining after news of Conway’s positive COVID-19 results, the Justice Department reiterated that Barr had tested negative Friday.
Ju s t ic e D epa r tment spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Barr again had tested negative.
The attorney general was seen leaving the White House on Saturday wearing a mask. He had gone there Friday and Saturday to get COVID-19 tests — both of which were negative.
Barr will continue to selfmonitor and get tested, according to the Justice Department.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a person stay at home for 14 days if he may have been exposed to COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the virus.