White House directs staff to wear masks after officials contract coronavirus

The White House on Mondaydirected all people entering the West Wing, where the dailyoperations of President Donald Trump's administration arecarried out, to wear masks after two aides tested positive forthe coronavirus, administration officials said.

The new guidelines, released in a memo to the president'sstaff on Monday afternoon, reflect a tightening of procedures atthe highest levels of the U.S. government over fears that Trumpand Vice-President Mike Pence could be exposed to the virus.

Trump's military valet and Pence's press secretary bothtested positive for the coronavirus last week.

The 73-year-old president said on Monday he did not thinkthose cases suggested the White House system had broken down.

"I felt no vulnerability whatsoever," Trump said, adding hefelt the situation was controlled "very well."

Still, the president said he would discuss maintaining somedistance from Pence, perhaps by communicating with him by phone,for a period of time. Pence worked at the White House on Monday, but did not attend a news conference held in the Rose Garden.Officials who attended wore masks, and speakers used a differentpodium from the one used by Trump.

Trump himself did not wear a mask while speaking, and ended the briefingafter a terse standoff with a reporter.

WATCH |Trump abruptlyends COVID-19newsconference:

Trump abruptly ends COVID-19 news conference

4 years ago

Duration 1:28

U.S. President Donald Trump halts a White House news conference after arguing with a reporter over a question about COVID-19 testing and telling her, 'Don't ask me, ask China.'

ABC News first reported about the memo, which also saidunnecessary visits from other parts of the White House complexto the West Wing area, which includes the Oval Office and workspace for senior advisers, are being discouraged.

Officials who work near the president have been gettingtested for the coronavirus, but previously had not been wearingmasks on a regular basis.

"Common sense has finally prevailed," one senioradministration official told Reuters.

Trump hesitant to wear mask

Trump has been resistant to wearing a mask himself and hasnot put one on in public, though he said he tried some onbackstage during a visit to a mask factory in Arizona last week.

WATCH | Trump defends White House protocols amid coronavirus outbreak:

Trump defends White House protocols amid coronavirus outbreak

4 years ago

Duration 1:55

U.S. President Donald Trump insists safety protocols did not break down as the White House scrambles to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak.

On Saturday he met the top leaders of the U.S. military, theJoint Chiefs of Staff, and members of his national securityteam in the White House Cabinet Room. The officials did not wearmasks, but had been tested for the virus in advance, a Pentagonspokesman said, adding that social distancing measures appearedto have been met. Secret Service agents in the room wore masks.

The president is in the age group that is considered highrisk for complications with the coronavirus, which has killedmore than 80,000 people in the United States alone and ravagedcountries and economies worldwide.

Staff members including Jared Kushner, the president'ssenior adviser and son-in-law, wore masks on White House groundson Monday.

The White House said last week it was stepping upprecautions for people who spend time around Trump and Pence,both of whom have resumed travel outside of Washington. The twomen are being tested for the virus daily.

"In addition to social distancing, daily temperature checksand symptom histories, hand sanitizerand regular deep cleaningof all work spaces, every staff member in close proximity to thepresident and vice-president is being tested daily for COVID-19, as well as any guests," White House spokesman Judd Deere said ina statement.

After Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive forthe virus last week, Trump was asked whether people in the WestWing would begin to wear masks. He responded that people alreadywere doing so. But he and his guests that day had not donnedmasks, and staff in the West Wing were not wearing them, either.

Miller is married to Stephen Miller, a senior White Houseaide and speechwriter for the president.

Some who had contact with Katie Miller have gone intopartial quarantine. An administration official said Pence workedfrom the White House on Monday, but would be maintaining distancefrom the president for the immediate future, in consultationwith the White House medical unit.