COVID-19 spread in White House sends top US health officials into quarantine

Enlarge / Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, flanked by US President Donald Trump, speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 22, 2020, in Washington, DC. (credit: Getty | Mandel Ngan)

The country's top health officials battling the COVID-19 pandemic are now in self-quarantine or a modified" quarantine following coronavirus exposure at the White House.

In the past week, many White House staffers, secret service members, and aides have tested positive for the virus, which generally spreads by respiratory droplets. Those infected include a military valet to President Trump; Ivanka Trump's personal assistant; Vice President Mike Pence's spokesperson, Katie Miller; and at least 11 members of the US Secret Service.

Many senior health officials working on the White House Coronavirus Task Force have been exposed at some level, leading to self-quarantines.

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