As of this moment, three White House journalists tested positive for COVID-19 today.
WHCA has informed the members of the press corps that the three White House journalists have tested positive for COVID19. This news comes after President Trump departed the White House for tests and evaluations at Walter Reed military hospital.
Individual 1 (Numbered in order of notification) received a preliminary positive test this morning at call time in the White House. The individual subsequently left the complex and received a confirming positive test. This individual was also at the White House briefing this past Sunday.
Individual 2 was most recently part of the out-of-town travel pool on Saturday for the trip to Pennsylvania but was briefly at the White House earlier in the day for a COVID test. That individual began experiencing symptoms on Thursday and tested positive earlier today.
Individual 3 was most recently part of the in-town travel pool on Sunday, which included a presidential news conference and a trip to the golf course. They also were in the in-town pool on Saturday, which included the Rose Garden event. That individual began experiencing symptoms late Wednesday and received a positive test result this afternoon.
The White House Medical Unit is beginning the process of contact tracing for these cases. We do not yet have an estimated time of completion for that process.
Given these positive cases, the president’s diagnosis, and positive cases among other members of the White House staff, a number of White House journalists are self-isolating pending diagnostic testing.