Housing Department Secretary Dr. Ben Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office announced – making him the latest official who attended a White House election night party to get COVID-19.
He tested positive for the virus Monday, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker told ABC News.
The word comes days after it was revealed White House chief of staff Mark Meadows also contracted the virus. Subsequent reports revealed that five other White House and and a Trump campaign staffer have tested positive for the virus.
According to the statement: ‘Secretary Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus. He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery.’
It was not immediately clear why Carson’s test was performed at Walter Reed, the military hospital where Trump received treatment and where many top government officials receive care.
Trump took experimental medecines including Regeneron, which he claims ‘cured’ him.
Carson was at the Election Night Party, which Meadows also attended.
Weeks before the election, Trump and first lady Melania contracted the virus, which complicated Trump’s closing message that the nation was ’rounding the corner.’
The U.S. has been suffering record new infections of about 1,000 per day the last several days.
The White House has refused to disclose how many people who attended the party have gotten the coronavirus, and the revelations have come from media reports.
It was a similar story for the White House party announcing Trump’s nomination of now Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, which became a superspreader event. The ceremony also included indoor parties where officials were unmasked.
The news broke on a day Joe Biden was announcing his new coronavirus advisory panel of ‘distinguished public health experts,’ and Pfizer announced new progress in its vaccine. The company was not part of the administration’s Operation Warp Speed, which funneled billions to companies in advance of a viable vaccine discovery in order to speed production.
‘Maybe it saves the life of a member of a place of worship .. Maybe it saves your life. So please, I implore you, wear a mask. A mask is not a political statement,’ he said.
Another key member of Trump’s circle, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, revealed that he tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, although he has ‘no clue’ when he was infected.