Face masks will still be 'recommended but not required' at the White House
Despite the fact that President Trump — along with Melania Trump and senior adviser Hope Hicks — tested positive for COVID-19, the White House will not be making any changes to its virus protocol, The Associated Press reports. "Our standard protocol is CDC best practices and recommendations," a White House official told Axios. "Facial coverings are recommended but not required … good hygiene is strongly recommended and social distancing is encouraged."
The White House will also not be changing its current testing system, despite the fact that it did not detect Hicks' infection on the day that she began to experience symptoms of the virus. This is perhaps unsurprising, given top officials' open disdain for risk-reduction measures — Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff who recently traveled with both Trump and Hicks, addressed reporters without wearing a mask on Friday morning. COVID-19 is "contagious ... regardless of whatever protocol we have," he reasoned.
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