White House staffers don protective masks
WASHINGTON • U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said some White House employees have started wearing face masks as a staffer to Vice-president Mike Pence tested positive for the coronavirus, raising questions about the safety of the country’s leaders.
The new coronavirus case on Pence’s team, which briefly delayed his flight to Iowa, a White House official confirmed, came a day after news that Trump’s personal valet had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The two cases in quick succession heightened fears of contagion to the United States’ top two leaders, with both Trump and Pence recently resuming robust travel schedules despite a national death toll from the virus rose above 77,800.
The White House has taken some steps to further protect top officials. Before news of the case on Pence’s team, Trump was asked in a Fox News interview on Friday whether those who serve him food would now cover their faces.
“They’ve already started,” he said.
The White House on Thursday said Trump and Pence tested negative for the virus and were feeling well after the Trump staffer — a U.S. military service member who works at the White House as a valet — came down with the virus. The White House has also instituted daily, as opposed to weekly, coronavirus tests for the president and vice-president.
Still, the two maintain busy public schedules. Pence has led the White House coronavirus task force that Trump this week said he was going to wind down before reversing course to keep it. On Friday, Pence flew to Iowa to meet with faith leaders about holding “responsible” gatherings and to discuss the food supply at the headquarters for Midwestern grocery chain Hy-vee Inc.
Trump attended a public event at the Second World War memorial on Friday and was scheduled to meet face-to-face with Republican members of Congress at the White House.
Even as White House staffers don masks, protective facial coverings have been a harder sell for Trump and Pence. Trump himself has said he would not wear a mask, but told reporters this week that he tried some on behind the scenes during his visit to a Honeywell face mask factory in Arizona.
The virus has infected more than 1.3 million Americans and driven about 20 million into unemployment as a result of lockdown measures. Those rules are being eased in some states, but many are still requiring mask use.
Both Trump and Pence have drawn fire for not donning face masks. Pence did not wear a mask while visiting coronavirus patients at Minnesota’s famed Mayo Clinic, but he later said he should have worn one.