A reporter who believes he contracted the coronavirus while covering President Donald Trump said on Monday that there have been no contact tracing efforts by the White House despite dozens of infections.
New York Times reporter Michael Shear said he believes he was infected while visiting the White House last Saturday for Trump’s announcement of Amy Coney Barrett or when Trump spoke to him and other reporters without a mask afterward on Air Force One.
The White House has claimed that “full contact tracing” is taking place but Shear says he’s heard nothing since testing positive.
“It’s now, you know, 10 days, 11 days, whatever, since I think I was probably infected on that Saturday,” he told CNN. “I have not been contacted by the White House. Nobody from the White House has said ‘boo’ and asked anything about where I was, who I talked to, or who else I might have infected. I think that just shows you they’re not taking it seriously, at least as it pertains to theirselves.”
Top advisers learned about positives on the news:
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who worked closely with Trump and top aide Hope Hicks on the president’s debate preparations, said he learned about the initial White House positive tests on the news. He has since checked himself into a hospital as a precaution.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany held a press briefing after Hicks’ positive test, apparently unaware of the news.
At least three White House reporters have tested positive.
McEnany announced on Monday that she has tested positive as well.
Trump didn’t disclose test on Thursday:
Trump did not disclose during his interview with Fox News on Thursday that he had tested positive on a rapid test and was awaiting the results of a second test, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"I'll get my test back either tonight or tomorrow morning," Trump told Sean Hannity before tweeting hours later that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive.
Trump also apparently tried to hide another adviser’s positive test.
"Don't tell anyone," Trump told the adviser, according to the report.
