Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence will be tested for coronavirus, the Vice President said at a White House press briefing on Saturday.
The White House was on high alert on Friday after a staff member in Vice President Mike Pence’s office tested positive for coronavirus. It was the first publicly-known positive case of a White House staffer.
“This evening we were notified that a member of the Office of the Vice President tested positive for the Coronavirus,” Katie Miller, Pence’s press secretary, was quoted as saying in a statement. “Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual.” The individual was not identified for privacy reason.
Miller said contact tracing for the people who might have come in close contact with the individual in question had begun.
“Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines,” Miller added.
Fox News recalled that “Pence was appointed by Trump to lead the White House’s coronavirus task force, which has been holding daily press briefings on the virus. In recent days, Trump has joined Pence and others on the task force for briefings.”
