Pence Aide Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Contact Tracing Ongoing

The White House disclosed its first case of the coronavirus on Friday night: a person who works in the office of Vice President Pence.

Updated at 8:03 p.m. ET

"Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual," Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller said in a statement. She declined to give further details.

"Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines," Miller said.

The White House has stepped up measures this week to practice the kind of social distancing that Trump and Pence have urged the nation to use. Anyone coming close to them has their temperature taken. There have been efforts to reduce the number of people coming into the crowded confines of the building.

Pence told reporters earlier this week that he has not been tested for the virus because the White House doctor had told him he didn't need to be.

Trump was tested a week ago and the White House physician said he tested negative. Trump said he opted to do the test after facing a barrage of questions about a dinner he had with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Florida two weeks ago. After that dinner, 23 members of Bolsonaro's delegation tested positive for the virus. Bolsonaro has said he twice tested negative. [Copyright 2020 NPR]