Trump’s Personal Valet Tests Positive For Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: U.S. President Donald Trump stands with staff following the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on April 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. The House is set to vote Thursday on an interim round of coronavirus aid for small businesses, as Democrats sought to include an additional $150 billion in funding for state and local budgets. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Someone who interacts closely with the president has tested positive for coronavirus. CNN reports that Donald Trump was upset when he heard the news.

A White House source said the valet, a man who has not been identified, exhibited “symptoms” Wednesday morning, and said the news that someone close to Trump had tested positive for coronavirus was “hitting the fan” in the West Wing.Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and the senior staffers who regularly interact with them are still being tested weekly for coronavirus, two people familiar told CNN. The White House is continuing to use the rapid Abbott Labs test, which provide results in about 15 minutes.

Someone can spread coronavirus to others 2-3 days before they show symptoms.

President Trump's personal valet who tested positive for COVID-19 works in the West Wing and serves the president his meals, among other duties, according to a White House official. Valets do not wear masks, this official says.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 7, 2020

Note that Donald Trump visited a mask factory two days ago in Phoenix, where he didn’t wear a mask.

The White House released a statement saying:

“We were recently notified by the White House Medical Unit that a member of the United States Military, who works on the White House campus, has tested positive for Coronavirus. The President and the Vice President have since tested negative for the virus and they remain in great health.”

But symptoms, in a newly infected person, can take up to 14 days to show up, so it could perhaps be too early to know for sure whether anyone else in the White House is infected.