Coronavirus: Valet catches virus, Donald Trump tests negative

A member of the military serving as one of President Donald Trump’s valets has tested positive for COVID-19.

Donald and Melania Trump arrive for a White House National Day of Prayer Service in the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday. Picture: AP

A member of the military serving as one of President Donald Trump’s valets has tested positive for COVID-19.

The White House said Mr Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence had since tested negative for the virus and remained “in good health”.

It marked the latest coronavirus scare for Mr Trump, and the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the President has tested positive since several people at his Florida club were diagnosed with COVID-19 in March. The valet tested positive on Wednesday.

The White House was moving to shore-up its protection protocols to protect the nation’s leaders. Mr Trump said that some staffers who interacted with him closely would be tested daily. Mr Pence said that he and Mr Trump would now be tested daily as well.

Mr Trump, 73, said the incident was a bit of a concern.

“It’s a little bit strange but it’s one of those things,” he said as he hosted Texas Governor Greg ­Abbott in the Oval Office.

“As I said, you know, I said yesterday, governor, all people are warriors in this country. Right now we’re all warriors.”

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said the White House medical unit had reported a member of the military on site had tested positive for COVID-19. “The President and the Vice-President have since tested negative for the virus and they remain in great health,” he said.

A person familiar with the matter said the member of the military who tested positive was one of the President’s valets. Several valets cater to the President and his guests at the White House, including serving meals and providing drinks.

Mr Trump said that he was tested on Wednesday and again on Thursday. He added: “I’ve had very little contact, personal contact, with this gentleman.”

He said the health scare showed the “fallacy” of calls for widespread nationwide testing.

“Testing is not a perfect art,” he said, adding: “Even when you test once a day somebody could, something happens where they catch something.”

The US recorded 2448 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, bringing the total to 75,543. The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities — has confirmed a total of 1,254,750 cases.

AP, AFP