U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19. This comes at a time the nation is continuing to try to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House confirmed in a statement to the White House pool that O’Brien tested positive for the coronavirus and is “self-isolating.”
“National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19,” the statement read. “He has mild symptoms and has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site.”
The White House also sought to tamp down any questions regarding the president, as it said there is “no risk of exposure” to President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence.
“There is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President,” the statement added. “The work of the National Security Council continues uninterrupted.”
White House confirms that National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19. "He has mild symptoms and has been self-isolating and working from a secure location off site. There is no risk of exposure to the President or the Vice President." (File photo) pic.twitter.com/4BVWL9quGX
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 27, 2020
This is not the first time someone within the White House has tested positive for the coronavirus. A U.S. Navy member, who is one of the president’s personal valet, tested positive in May. Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller also previously had been infected with the coronavirus.
Trump recently said, “I do probably on average a test every two days, three days, and I don’t know of any time I’ve taken two in one day.”