Administration officials were warned on Wednesday that an employee, who works in a cafeteria on the White House grounds has tested positive for coronavirus. Ike's Eatery, which is at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office Building's cafeteria has been closed temporarily, according to an emailed obtained by CNN.
The aforesaid email also noted that the chances of those working with the employee contracting the virus are low due to precautions such as masks and gloves. Moreover, the email suggests there is no need to raise the alarm or panic. This was originally reported by NBC News.
Located in the West Wing of the White House, the cafeteria is frequently visited by the President's staffers who have their meals there. After conducting contact tracing, it was found that no executive office staff needs to self-quarantine citing exposure, the email says.
Another staffer testing positive for the virus on the White House reflects the unprecedented challenge employees face in their attempt to restrict the spread of the pandemic the West Wing, while Trump continues to push to reopen businesses across the country.
Two White House employees, as well as a Navy member who serves as one of the president's personal valets, tested positive for COVID-19 in May. This raised alarms about potential exposure of Trump to the virus. Trump showed concerns regarding his staffers contracting the virus as it would undermine his message about the virus fading out and the states should start to reopen their businesses.
The White House leaves no stone unturned in a bid to ensure Trump and Vice President Mike Pence do not contract the virus, especially when they are traveling to states that are experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. Trump announced earlier this year that he was taking anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine despite the lack of evidence showing it could prevent coronavirus, CNN reported.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEneny touted Trump as the United States' most tested man, who doesn't risk spreading coronavirus to people around him. McEneny went as far as saying Trump is tested more than anyone, several times a day, adding that the president is acting appropriately.
Just a few hours later, Trump contradicted the White House press secretary's claims saying he doesn't recall taking more than one coronavirus test in a day. He was responding to a reporter who asked why he was getting tested more than one time a day.