A journalist was denied entry into the White House Coronavirus Task Force news briefing Saturday after developing a fever.
Reporters had their body temperatures taken by staff at the White House as a precaution against the coronavirus.
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One person was tested three times by the White House Medical Unit over a 15-minute period, and each time, the result registered above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guideline of what constitutes a fever, 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Katie Miller, who is a press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence.
Fever is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus.
NBC News’s Kelly O’Donnell said in a tweet that the journalist who was turned away appeared to be from China Global Television Network.
WH Medical Office taking temperatures to enter the briefing room. pic.twitter.com/ZybBlwFsyK
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) March 14, 2020
Journalist turned away after temperature screening. His organization appears to be CGTN an English language channel that is Chinese owned. pic.twitter.com/DFvVasbxd5
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) March 14, 2020
The checks began on Saturday. “Out of an abundance of caution, temperature checks are now being performed on any individuals who are in close contact with the president and vice president,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
President Trump told reporters who made it into the briefing room that he took a coronavirus test on Friday night and is awaiting results.
There have been more than 1,600 cases of the coronavirus in the United States, along with at least 40 deaths.
