Mike Pence to continue campaigning despite ‘close contact' with chief of staff who tested positive for Covid-19

Vice President Mike Pence has planned to continue his aggressive campaign schedule despite his chief of staff, whom he’s been in close contact with, testing positive for the coronavirus on Saturday.

Mr Pence has since tested negative, his office said. But the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would designate the vice president’s chief of staff, Marc Short, as a “close contact”, which would mean Mr Pence should quarantine.

“Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for Covid-19 today, and remain in good health,” spokesperson Devin O’Malley said, the New York Times first reported.

“While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel,” he added.

The guidelines for essential personnel require them to monitor for any Covid-19 symptoms and wear masks around people when unable to keep socially distanced. The White House did not comment on how Mr Pence’s campaign duties amounted to essential work.

It was reported earlier on Saturday that Martin Obst, a political adviser to the vice president, also tested positive, according to Bloomberg News. Reportedly three other aides to Mr Pence have also tested positive.

Mr Pence attended a political rally at Lakeland International Airport in Florida on Saturday to drum up support for President Donald Trump. He then held a second rally at Tallahassee International Airport. 

According to Bloomberg News, the vice president knew about his chief of staff and political aide’s positive tests but decided to attend the outdoor rallies anyway. He remained distanced from the crowd but did not wear a mask. 

Democratic vice president candidate Kamala Harris had a coronavirus outbreak a few weeks ago on her own team after a senior aide tested positive. She, unlike Mr Pence, decided to take a few days off the campaign trail out of precaution. 

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sought to keep the news of the outbreak among Mr Pence’s team from reaching the public, according to the New York Times. 

Mr Meadows told CNN on Sunday that "sharing personal information is not something we should do unless it’s the president or the vice president” or someone close to them, a defence he used as to why the White House attempted to keep the news from reaching the public. 

He also confirmed that Americans “should abide by CDC guidelines” but there were “special instances” to not follow the guidelines. This statement was made in an effort to defend the vice president attending rallies and not always wearing a mask even though he came in close contact with an infected individual. 

The outbreak among Mr Pence’s staff comes just a few weeks after Mr Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and multiple members of the White House all tested positive for the novel virus. The White House has since faced scrutiny for their handling of these outbreaks and unwillingness to take proper precautions to avoid infecting other staff members. 

Although Mr Pence has so far tested negative for the novel virus, that does not mean he was in the clear. 

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested negative for coronavirus for multiple days after Mr Trump tested positive, despite being in close contact with the president and others. Ms McEnany, who continued to work throughout the White House instead of quarantining, then tested positive for the virus four days later and other members of her office were also infected. 

Mr Trump commented on his vice president’s chief of staff testing positive for the novel virus early on Sunday morning after his plane landed at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington DC, following a day of political rallies. 

“I did hear about it just now,” he said. “And I think he’s quarantining. Yeah. I did hear about it. He’s going to be fine. But he’s quarantining.”