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White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed on Tuesday that there had been cases of COVID-19 among White House staff that had not previously been disclosed.
Psaki, during Tuesday’s White House briefing, confirmed reports that a vaccinated White House official and vaccinated staff member of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive for the coronavirus after having attended the same event.
PELOSI VACCINATED AND WHITE HOUSEHOLD STAFF TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
When asked if there had been other positive COVID cases among staff members, Psaki said “there have been,” but did not disclose further details.
Psaki, however, maintained the administration’s commitment to disclose positive COVID-19 tests among “officers.”
“Under an agreement we made during the transition, we pledged to publish information proactively,” Psaki said, adding that they “continued to deliver on that pledge.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily White House briefing in Washington on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
(AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
When asked if there had been any previously undisclosed positive COVID cases among White House staff, Psaki said “that’s correct”.
“There are hundreds of thousands in the federal government,” said Psaki, upholding his commitment to making information publicly available.
Psaki added that the White House staff member who tested positive for COVID this week was not a commissioned officer, and further confirmed that other cases of breakthrough among White House staff were not not commissioned officers either.
WHERE TO FIND COVID VACCINES
Psaki said if a commissioned White House or administration officer was positive, the White House would release that information.
The White House official who tested positive for COVID-19 outside the White House grounds.
“In accordance with our rigorous COVID-19 protocols, the official remains off campus while awaiting the confirmatory PCR test,” said a White House official. “The White House medical unit has conducted contact tracing interviews and has not determined any close contact between directors and White House staff. The individual is showing mild symptoms.”
The official added that the administration knows “that there will be groundbreaking cases, but as this example shows, cases in people vaccinated are generally mild.”
“The White House is prepared for revolutionary cases with regular testing,” the official said. “This is another reminder of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against serious illness or hospitalization.”
The manager added: “We wish our colleague a speedy recovery.”
News of the groundbreaking cases comes after six members of the Texas delegation tested positive for the virus after leaving the state capital and coming to Washington last week to try to thwart a special legislative session where Republicans seek to adopt further electoral reforms.
VP KAMALA HARRIS TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 AFTER MEETING WITH DEMOCRATS FROM TEXAS, PSAKI SAYS
Vice president Kamala harris met with members of the Texas delegation last Tuesday, but she has since tested negative for COVID-19, Psaki confirmed on Monday.
“I think the vice president’s office indicated that she had been tested and there was no detection of COVID-19,” Psaki said. “They have also posted specific details about their proximity to those who test positive. We take these precautions incredibly seriously and respect the advice of our aide and medical experts.”
Meanwhile, Drew Hammill, a senior Pelosi collaborator, said the unidentified staff member was fully vaccinated and had no recent contact with California’s top Democrat, although the office of the President take extra precautions accordingly.
“Yesterday, a fully vaccinated senior spokesperson for the speaker’s press office tested positive for COVID after contact with members of the Texas state legislature last week,” Hammill said in a statement obtained by Fox News.
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“This individual has not had any contact with the speaker since the exhibition. The entire press office works remotely today with the exception of people who have had no exposure to the individual or who have had a recent negative test. Our office will continue to follow the guidelines of the Attending Physician’s Office closely. “
On Tuesday, Pelosi and his staff were again spotted wearing masks on the Capitol. Following an easing of mask restrictions by the Capitol doctor, many members have opted against masks in recent weeks.
Fox News’ Marisa Schultz, Erin McEwan and Kelly Phares contributed to this report.
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