Pence Will Not Self-quarantine, Plans to Be At the WH Monday

By Staff, Agencies

US Vice President Mike Pence is not planning to enter self-quarantine after his press secretary tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and plans to be at the White House on Monday, his office said on Sunday.

Pence spokesperson Devin O'Malley said the vice president "will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine."

"Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow," O'Malley said in the statement.

The announcement comes as the White House continues to urge governors to begin reopening their states even as the virus has edged closer to the West Wing with news that top members of the coronavirus task force will self-quarantine, in some form, after coming in contact with an individual who tested positive for the virus.

An official said there is extreme sensitivity inside the White House at the current state of affairs with officials recognizing the contradiction in telling states to reopen while the White House enhances protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The official said Pence's schedule will probably be on the lighter side in the coming days, but that he's not doing a full self-quarantine.

Those steps come after US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for the virus.

Trump said that Miller has not come into contact with him but noted that she has been in contact with Pence.