Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in quarantine after coming involved with an individual who examined constructive for the coronavirus, the State Division mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday. Mr. Pompeo has up to now examined damaging, it mentioned.
The assertion didn’t determine the one that had contact with Mr. Pompeo, or when it occurred, citing privateness considerations. It was not instantly clear what sort of check Mr. Pompeo had taken or when he was examined, nor whether or not he was exhibiting any signs. Mr. Pompeo is being monitored by the State Division’s medical workforce, the assertion mentioned.
Assessments taken too quickly after publicity could return false damaging outcomes, as a result of the virus has not but had time to construct as much as detectable ranges. Individuals are thought to hold the most important amount of virus across the time their signs seem, in the event that they expertise signs in any respect.
Mr. Pompeo has not traveled overseas since a 10-day journey to Europe and the Center East final month. His final publicly reported meeting with a overseas official was in Washington final week with the Slovenian overseas minister, Anže Logar.
Even so, he has hosted a whole bunch of individuals at a number of State Department holiday parties in latest days. He was slated to attend one on Tuesday afternoon for members of the family of diplomats who’re stationed overseas, however The Washington Put up reported that he canceled the speech he had ready to provide to friends. It was not clear whether or not he appeared and didn’t converse, or simply skipped the occasion completely.
Mr. Pompeo is the newest of the Trump administration’s most senior nationwide safety officers to have contact with individuals who examined constructive.
Final month, the Pentagon was notified that Lithuania’s protection minister had examined constructive after assembly Christopher C. Miller, the appearing protection secretary, and different high army officers. Considered one of them, Anthony J. Tata, a senior Pentagon adviser who’s performing the duties of undersecretary of coverage, examined constructive for the virus afterward.
At least 50 people with close links to the White House have contracted the virus, along with friends and others, and President Trump himself, who was hospitalized for just a few days in early October after exhibiting signs of Covid-19.
