RNC: Chairwoman McDaniel tested positive for Covid-19
October 2, 2020
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has tested positive for Covid-19, an RNC spokesperson said Friday, just hours after President Donald Trump also announced he had contracted the coronavirus.
“After a member of her family tested positive for COVID-19, the Chairwoman was tested for the virus. On Wednesday afternoon, she got confirmation she was COVID-19 positive,” said Mike Reed, the RNC’s deputy chief of staff for communications, in a statement.
McDaniel “has been at her home in Michigan since last Saturday,” Reed said.
McDaniel first began experiencing symptoms earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the matter. She was most recently with Trump on Thursday and Friday of last week, testing negative on both occasions before coming into contact with him, the source said.
It is unclear when McDaniel alerted the White House to her positive test.
The president and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19 after one the president’s closest aides, Hope Hicks, came down with the disease, as well.
The news of McDaniel’s diagnosis marks another major turn of events for Republicans one month away from Election Day, as their top party official and presidential nominee will likely be forced to limit campaign activity in the race’s final stretch.
Although the RNC provided no further details on the status of McDaniel’s health, White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo that the president and the first lady were “both well,” and that Trump would “continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
Nick Niedzwiadek contributed to this report.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
