White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday, The New York Times and The Washington Post report.
Additionally, a Trump campaign adviser and four other White House officials have reportedly been diagnosed with COVID-19. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Times the various cases were meant to be kept under wraps, which is in line with Meadows' reported efforts to prevent a recent outbreak within Vice President Mike Pence's office from reaching the public.
Meadows was at President Trump's election party at the White House on Tuesday. Per the Times, there were hundreds of people gathered in the East Room for several hours, many not wearing masks. The Times and the Post note that Meadows has repeatedly downplayed the importance of masks throughout the pandemic.
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The news of the infections within the campaign and White House come as the U.S. reported 132,000 new cases nationwide Friday, a third-straight single-day record. Read more at The New York Times and The Washington Post.
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