Mike Pence and top US officials test negative after Donald Trump contracts coronavirus

The US president disclosed early on Friday that he had Covid-19, raising concerns that those in regular contact with him may have been exposed

Vice-president Pence will work from a separate residence, while Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Mike Pompeo, Steven Mnuchin and Alex Azar are negative

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US vice-president Mike Pence and his staff will not work from the White House after President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Trump’s top aide Hope Hicks tested positive for Covid-19. Photo: DPA

Published: 10:23pm, 2 Oct 2020Updated: 1:24am, 3 Oct 2020

US vice-president Mike Pence on Friday tested negative for Covid-19, his spokesman said, after President Donald Trump stunned the world by disclosing he has contracted the coronavirus.

“As has been routine for months, vice-president Pence is tested for Covid-19 every day. This morning, vice-president Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for Covid-19,” spokesman Devin O’Malley tweeted.

Among many other concerns raised by Trump’s diagnosis is the issue of whether people like Pence who come into close contact with the president, who rarely wears a mask, might also have contracted the virus.

The White House said on Friday that Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner had tested negative, while the 14-year-old son of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump does not have the virus. “Barron has tested negative and all precautions are being taken to ensure he’s kept safe and healthy,” it said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s spokeswoman said he was tested on Friday as per routine and it came back negative.