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US: WH concern deepens as 11 members of Secret Service test positive

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The White House is on high alert after learning that multiple Secret Service members have tested positive for coronavirus, according to Department of Homeland Security documents reviewed by Yahoo News.

Secret Service members have been seen walking around the White House grounds not wearing face masks. The president and vice president have also chosen not to wear face masks in recent appearances.

“To protect the privacy of our employees’ health information and for operational security, the Secret Service is not releasing how many of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19, Nor how many of its employees were, or currently are, quarantined,” said Justine Whelan, Secret Service spokeswoman.

In March, the Yahoo report said, the Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other leaders, acknowledged that a single employee had tested positive for the coronavirus. There were 11 active cases at the agency as of Thursday evening, according to a daily report compiled by the DHS, Yahoo said. 

In addition, the report said, 23 Secret Service members have recovered from coronavirus while 60 employees have self-quarantined.  Yahoo News said it was not known if any have recently been on detail with the president or vice president.

The news comes as a pair of cases among White House staffers close to Trump and Pence have focused attention on West Wing security procedures.

Katie Miller, press secretary for the Vice President and wife of senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, has tested positive for coronavirus, it was reported on Friday. 
Last week, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere told reporters that anyone who comes near the president and vice president are being tested for coronavirus.

On Thursday, it was reported that one of Trump’s military valets tested positive. According to CNBC, the valet “had very close contact with the president, including serving meals and and helping him with his clothes and other personal needs.” 

Trump subsequently told reporters that the White House had only been testing on a weekly basis and would increase the number of tests.

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For more on this story go to: https://www.newsmax.com/us/secret-service-virus/2020/05/08/id/966760/?ns_mail_uid=6952f1f9-507d-4a20-8cc0-0a1db158d76e&ns_mail_job=DM109388_05092020&s=acs&dkt_nbr=010502xrm6fm

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