Student whose classmates shook hands with VP Pence is now under a coronavirus quarantine

A Florida student whose classmates recently met and shook hands with Vice President Mike Pence is now under coronavirus quarantine, schools officials from Sarasota Military Academy announced Monday.

The student does not have a confirmed case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, and did not meet with the vice president during his visit to Florida last Friday, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

According to a post from the school on its Facebook page, the student and his mother have been placed under quarantine as a "precautionary measure" after the mother came into contact with a patient who had contracted the virus while at work in a hospital.

During his visit, Pence interacted with 44 academy cadets, shaking hands and posing for photographs with them. The Pentagon has been in contact with the school regarding the student.

'Can we all take a deep breath?'

After the news began circulating, Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, asked people not to overreact, reassuring that the quarantined student never came in contact with the vice president.

"Can we all take a deep breath? Mike Pence did not meet or come into contact at all with this student," she said on Twitter Tuesday.

Even if the student later tests positive, the chances that Pence contracted the virus are low given the layers of people between the two and the fact that the virus does not survive for long outside of the body.

Pence is also reportedly mindful of washing his hands frequently during visits across the country.

"I travel across this country all the time. My kids live all over the country," Pence said recently, according to Bloomberg News. "And look, this is a time to use common sense.

"Good time to wash your hands," he added.

Last week, President Donald Trump appointed Pence to lead the government's response effort to the virus in America.