World News | White House Press Secretary Tests Positive for COVID-19

Washington, Oct 5 (PTI) White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday that she has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the latest high-profile official in President Donald Trump's immediate circle to be hit by the deadly virus.

McEnany, 32, has become the highest-ranking White House official to be tested positive for COVID-19 after President Trump and the first lady tested positive for the deadly virus that has so far killed more than 200,000 Americans this year.

Also Read | White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Tests Positive for COVID-19.

"After testing negative consistently, including every day since Thursday, I tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning while experiencing no symptoms,” McEnany said in a statement posted on Twitter.

No reporters, producers or members of the press are listed as close contacts by the White House Medical Unit, she said.

Also Read | Kayleigh McEnany Tests COVID-19 Positive, White House Press Secretary to Go Under Quarantine.

"Moreover, I definitively had no knowledge of Hope Hicks diagnosis prior to holding a White House press briefing on Thursday,” she said, referring to her press meet in the White House on that day while not wearing a mask.

A close aide of the president and the first lady, Hicks was the first senior White House official last week to have tested positive. Soon thereafter Trump and his wife Melania tested positive.

"As an essential worker I have worked diligently to provide needed information to the American People at this time. With my recent positive test I will begin the quarantine process and will continue working on behalf of the American People remotely,” McEnany said.

Several White House staffers have tested positive with COVID-19 in recent months, including National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary Katie Miller and Trump body man Nick Luna.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)