Multiple White House staffers test positive for coronavirus

Multiple White House staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 as a new round of aides become infected with the virus.

An official familiar with the matter confirmed the positive test results to The Hill, though did not immediately clarify exactly how many staffers had tested positive.

CNN reported that two staffers had tested positive.

“Any positive case is taken seriously. Contact tracing has been conducted by the White House Medical Unit consistent with CDC guidelines to stop further transmission. Appropriate notifications and recommendations have been made,” said White House spokesperson Judd Deere.

The news comes a day after officials confirmed that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive for the coronavirus, emerging as the latest high-ranking White House staffer to test positive for the highly-contagious virus. It was not immediately clear when Meadows contracted the virus or when he tested positive, but he was seen at President Trump’s campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday afternoon without a mask on.

Meadows oftentimes works closely with Trump, including when the president had his own bout with the coronavirus in October. Last month saw a rash of positive test results among White House aides, including Stephen Miller, Kayleigh McEnany and Hope Hicks.

The new cases come as the nation sees an alarming rise in infections across the country, with indications emerging that the U.S. is heading toward a third wave before the cold winter months, which are expected to exacerbate the pandemic even further.

The country set a new record Friday for the number of cases with nearly 9.7 million, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

Brett Samuels contributed.