The White House Became a COVID-19 Hotspot... "Reporting from North Korea Might Be Safer Than the White House"

White House Spokesperson, Aides, and Now Reporters Infected
Reporters Post Mask-Wearing Notices After White House Declines Mask Mandate
Trump Returns, Removes Mask to Show Health: "Better Than 20 Years Ago"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is growing within the White House in the United States. Not only the White House Press Secretary's Office but also the reporters covering the White House have been confirmed to be infected one after another. After being hospitalized at a military hospital due to COVID-19, Donald Trump returned to the White House and has been showing confidence in his health condition, still not showing any sense of urgency.

President Donald Trump of the United States
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

According to U.S. media including CNN on the 5th (local time), following White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany testing positive for COVID-19, additional positive cases have been confirmed among staff members of the White House Press Secretary's Office such as Chad Gilmartin and Caroline Leavitt. Infections among reporters are also continuing. According to a report by The New York Times (NYT), at least three people including NYT reporter Michael Shear have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. These reporters covered White House events or accompanied President Trump's schedule on Air Force One, the U.S. presidential aircraft.

Within the White House, COVID-19 is spreading mainly among President Trump's close aides. Since Hope Hicks, a White House aide, confirmed her COVID-19 infection on the 1st, Nick Luna, another White House aide, has also tested positive.

Additionally, Kellyanne Conway, former senior counselor to the White House, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Mike Lee, and John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, who attended the nomination ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett as a federal Supreme Court justice held in the White House Rose Garden on the 26th of last month, have also been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Although the White House has effectively become a hotspot for COVID-19 infections, there are criticisms that proper preventive measures are not being taken. Despite President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump testing positive for COVID-19, mask-wearing has not yet been made mandatory inside the White House, and employees working without masks have been observed.

On the 5th (local time), Marine One, the helicopter carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, is landing at the White House. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Ben Tracy, a reporter for CBS News, stated on his social networking service (SNS), "I felt that reporting from North Korea is safer than reporting from the White House right now," adding, "This is just crazy."

Given the situation, reporters have put up signs in the briefing room asking people to wear masks. Since the White House has effectively refused to enforce mandatory mask-wearing, reporters have taken action to protect themselves.

Despite the situation, President Trump was seen removing his mask immediately upon returning to the White House. While this was partly to show his vitality, it also demonstrates a continued lack of awareness regarding the seriousness of COVID-19.

White House Press Briefing Room Disinfection Scene
[Image Source=AP Yonhap News]

After being discharged from Walter Reed Military Hospital in Maryland, he mentioned in a video message on Twitter, "I am in better shape than I was 20 years ago," and said, "I may have developed immunity." President Trump stated, "I have learned a lot about COVID-19," adding, "The one thing I know for sure is to not let it dominate you, and not to be afraid of it." Furthermore, President Trump said, "I stepped up to lead the country even in dangerous situations," and "No other leader would have done what I did."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.