Staffer for Vice President Mike Pence tests positive for COVID-19

An aide to Vice President Mike Pence has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first confirmed case of a White House employee becoming infected with the novel coronavirus.

What are the details?

The Hill reported the vice president's press secretary issued a statement on Friday, saying, "This evening we were notified that a member of the Office of the Vice President tested positive for the Coronavirus. Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual. Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines."

According to the Washington Examiner, Vice President Pence said during a White House briefing on Monday that he had not yet been tested for the virus, telling reporters, "I've not been tested yet," adding, "I'm in regular consultation with the White House physician and he said I've not been exposed to anyone for any period of time who has the coronavirus."

The vice president recently attended two separate gatherings where individuals later tested positive for the virus, including the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this month and a dinner at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort shortly thereafter.

Two attendees at CPAC were confirmed after the conference to have COVID-9, as was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, who attended the Mar-a-Lago meeting.