Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence tested negative for the coronavirus.
Pence announced Saturday afternoon that he and the second lady would be tested for the coronavirus, a day after they found out one of his staffers tested positive.
Hours later, Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, tweeted, “Pleased to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President [Pence] and Second Lady [Karen Pence].”
Pleased to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President @Mike_Pence and Second Lady @KarenPence.
— Katie Miller (@VPPressSec) March 22, 2020
During Saturday’s White House coronavirus press briefing, Pence also provided additional information regarding his ill staffer.
“I am pleased to report that he’s doing well. He had mild cold-like symptoms for about a day and a half, has not been to the White House since Monday. Neither the president nor I had direct contact with that staff person,” he explained.
“We’ve done all contact tracing, and all the White House doctors indicated that he has no reason to believe that I was exposed and no need to be tested, given the unique position that I have as vice president and as the leader of the White House coronavirus task force,” Pence added. “Both I and my wife will be tested for the coronavirus later this afternoon.”
Later in the briefing, President Trump revealed that he was recently tested for the virus a second time despite saying that he feels fine. He was first tested about a week ago, and a note from the White House physician said his results came back negative. His latest results have not yet been announced.
Earlier in February, the president and vice president were at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where one attendee later tested positive for the virus. The man did not interact with Trump or Pence, but he was in close proximity with multiple lawmakers who self-quarantined out of precaution.
Additionally, Trump and Pence were also at Mar-a-Lago in Florida while a Brazilian delegation was visiting. Fabio Wajngarten, a press secretary to President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, tested positive days after the Mar-a-Lago visit. While there, Wajngarten posed for a photo with Trump and Pence. But, Pence did not get tested after either incident.
