Mike Pence’s press secretary is second White House staffer to test positive for Covid-19 this week

(The Guardian) – Vice-president Mike Pence’s press secretary tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said Friday, making her the second person who works at the White House complex known to test positive for the virus this week.

Katie Miller is married to Stephen Miller, a top Trump advisor. She has been in recent contact with Pence but not with the president. The White House had no immediate comment on whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working out of the White House.

Katie Miller had tested negative on Thursday. A senior White House official said staff in the West Wing are tested regularly but much of Pence’s staff, which works next door in the Executive Office building, are tested less frequently.

Trump said he was “not worried” about the virus spreading in the White House. Regardless, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said the administration was stepping up mitigation efforts already recommended by public health experts and taking other unspecified precautions to ensure the safety of the president. The president and vice-president will now be tested daily, as well as some staffers who closely interact with Trump.

One of Trump’s personal valets tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week. The case marked the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the president has tested positive since several people present at his private Florida club were diagnosed with Covid-19 in early March.