RNC chief of staff tests positive for coronavirus

Republican National Committee (RNC) chief of staff Richard Walters has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, making him the latest in a number of Republican officials to be diagnosed with the virus.

An RNC official confirmed that Walters has tested positive and said that the party “is following CDC guidance and notifying staff who came in contact with him.”

His case was revealed shortly after news that Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to President Trump’s reelection campaign, had also tested positive for COVID-19. The cases do not appear to have an immediate connection.

Lewandowski is one of several individuals present at the White House election night event last week who have since tested positive for the virus. Walters was not at the White House on election night, the RNC official said.

Other members of Trump’s circle who have tested positive for the virus in the past week include chief of staff Mark Meadows, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and White House political director Brian Jack, all of whom were at the election night party.

News of the two cases comes more than a week after the election.