White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany fired off at the media, saying that there is no definitive way to say where the COVID outbreak which infected President Trump and other Republicans originated, though some have claimed the source to be the White House’s event for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
When asked whether the event led to the virus outbreak, McEnany said: “There’s no way to say where this originated.”
“Certainly several people who tested positive were at that event but many of these individuals interact on a daily basis, certainly when it comes to White House staff,” she continued.
McEnany also added that “there’s no way to put a pinpoint on it, but it’s safe to say soon as positive cases were found contact tracing began.”
Officials are looking at the outbreak in a “detailed manner,” according to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
“We actually know that some infection here in the White House did not come from that event, because of the number of people that we have,” Meadows said, referring to the Barrett confirmation event which took place in the Rose Garden. “We know exactly, or we believe we know exactly where that infection came from. So to do it from a causal standpoint, and suggest that that was a cause, would not be accurate.”
McEnany, who was recently diagnosed with COVID, has said that she has not experienced any symptoms so far.
In an interview on Fox News, speaking about the media, McEnany said: ““I’ve never seen such disdain, animosity, rage at the notion of the commander-in-chief contracting COVID and getting over it.”
“This should be a moment we say, ‘We’re grateful he’s healthy and in good spirits,’” she added.
WH Press Sec. Kayleigh McEnany: “I’ve never seen such disdain, animosity, rage at the notion of the commander-in-chief contracting COVID and getting over it …" pic.twitter.com/g57Z3804O0
— The Recount (@therecount) October 6, 2020
Other top Republicans have tested positive for COVID, including First Lady Melania Trump, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, White House Adviser Hope Hicks, Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Mike Lee, and former White House Adviser Kellyanne Conway.
“My family is grateful for all of the prayers & support! I am feeling good & will continue to rest at home. Thank you to medical staff & caretakers everywhere, & my continued prayers for those who are ill or have a family member impacted by the virus,” First Lady Melania Trump wrote in an update on her condition.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden‘s campaign announced on Tuesday that he and Jill Biden, his wife, have tested negative for COVID.