The coronavirus was checked positively by a senior Brazilian official who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida, marking the first time anyone known to have the virus was close to the president.
Trump has no intention of being checked or going into self-quarantine, the White House said.
President Donald Trump would know on Friday if Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, according to reports from Brazil, has tested positive for the coronavirus after the two men feasted together during Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night and shook hands.
Many members of the first family visited the Winter White House that evening, because there was a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, along with the Brazilian delegation working dinner.
The communications chief of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, Fábio Wajngarten, tested positively just days after traveling with Bolsonaro to a meeting in Florida with Trump and senior staff.
In a statement Thursday White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that “exposures from the case are being reviewed, which will determine next steps.”
Although Trump did not take any overt action in response, two Republican lawmakers announced that after coming into touch with Bolsonaro’s delegation they will be self-quarantine for two weeks.
The Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who encountered Bolsonaro in Miami, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was in Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, declared Thursday that they might isolate themselves.
President Trump, who was pictured on Saturday night standing next to Wajngartenn and Vice President Mike Pence at Mar-a-Lago, said Thursday that he was’ not concerned’ about potentially contracting the virus.
To reiterate CDC recommendations, there is currently no recommendation that patients should be screened without symptoms and only persons with prolonged near exposure to reported positive cases should be self-quarantined,’ Grisham said.
We are closely monitoring the situation and will update everyone when we get more details.’
The reported infection comes after Trump had regular contact with people who had contact with people who were testing positive for the virus themselves.
Trump’s newly appointed personnel manager, Mark Meadows, emerged from Thursday’s self-quarantine. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida flew with Trump on Air Force One Monday back to Washington but separated himself on the flight after being told that he contacted an infected person.
In a statement, Grisham said that “the White House Medical Unit and the U.S. Secret Service worked together with various agencies to ensure that every measure is taken to keep the First & Second Family and all White House staff safe.”