EDMONTON -- As U.S. President Donald Trump rests in a military hospital while receiving treatment for COVID-19, a growing number of people in and around the White House have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Among them, Trump's campaign manager Bill Stepien, former White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, and at least three Republican lawmakers who attended public events before learning they had contracted the virus.
The growing list of infections has added a swirl of tension in Washington just 30 days before the presidential election.
These are the people with connection to the White House who have tested positive for COVID-19:
TRUMP AND THE FIRST LADY
Trump first revealed that he had tested positive in a tweet about 1 a.m. ET Friday, hours after he returned from a Thursday afternoon political fundraiser.
The White House says Trump is expected to stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center “for a few days” as a precautionary measure. He was seen leaving the White House Friday evening, flashing a thumbs-up to reporters before boarding a Marine One helicopter. His physician said he was being treated with remdesivir, an antiviral medication, after taking another experimental drug at the White House.
First lady Melania Trump, who also tested positive, had a “mild cough and headache.” She is believed to be isolating at the White House.
SENIOR AIDE HOPE HICKS
While it’s not clear how or when the president was exposed, Trump was in regular contact with top aide Hope Hicks, who tested positive on Thursday afternoon. Hicks travelled with Trump on multiple occasions over the last week and was in attendance at Tuesday night’s presidential debate.
CAMPAIGN MANAGER BILL STEPIEN
Stepien is the latest figure in the President's inner circle to be infected with COVID-19 after receiving a positive test result Friday night. He is suffering from what officials describe as "mild flu-like" symptoms.
Stepien was also in attendance at Tuesday’s debate and was seen in close proximity to Hicks.
FORMER COUNSELLOR KELLYANNE CONWAY
Former White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway announced late Friday that she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Her symptoms are mild and she is quarantining in consultation with her physicians, according to a statement posted to Twitter.
Conway is the fifth person to test positive after attending a Rose Garden event last Saturday where Trump announced his Supreme Court pick.
ROSE GARDEN EVENT ATTENDEES
Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, and University of Notre Dame President John Jenkins all tested positive for COVID-19 following the Rose Garden ceremony announcing Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination last weekend.
Though the event was held outdoors, attendees sat closely together and few wore masks. Some also mingled at a smaller event inside the White House.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson tested positive Saturday after being exposed to an unspecified person who had also tested positive.
Johnson did not attend the Rose Garden event because he was quarantining after a previous exposure to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. However, he did attend a lunch with other Republican senators this week.
FORMER NEW JERSEY GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE
Christie, who helped Trump prepare for the first presidential debate earlier this week, has also tested positive for COVID-19. He has since been hospitalized as a precaution, making him the first of the president's close contacts to check in for medical treatment.
Christie tweeted Saturday that his symptoms remain "mild" and that his history of asthma was factored into the decision.
He added, “I am thankful for our hardworking medical professionals and look forward to coming home soon.”
WHO HAS TESTED NEGATIVE?
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, his wife, Jill Biden, and his running mate Kamala Harris tested negative following Tuesday’s debate.
Vice-President Mike Pence also tested negative for the virus Friday and "remains in good health," according to his spokesperson. Pence was to resume his campaign schedule after his test.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tested negative as well.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who had in-person meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, tested negative on Friday morning, according to a tweet from his spokesperson Monica Crowley. He will undergo daily testing in the meantime.
Attorney General William Barr, who was last in the same room as the president on Saturday, also tested negative, according to CNN.
CNN also reported that Trump's lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, also tested negative for COVID-19.
Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., announced Saturday on Twitter that he has tested negative.
"Thanks to all those who so lovingly have reached out about @realDonaldTrump and the rest of the family. It truly means a lot to us," he wrote in a tweet. "I tested negative so I'll give it a few more days out of and abundance of caution and test again and if I'm clear I'll be back to work asap."
Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, have also tested negative, according to a message from Lara Trump on her Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Fourteen-year-old Barron Trump, the president's son with the first lady, also received a negative test result, Melania Trump's chief of staff told CNN.
Several members of the Senate Judiciary panel who attended Barrett's nomination last weekend have also tested negative for COVID-19.
Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn said she tested negative after the event. Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo. said he "recently" had a negative test, but did not specify when he took it.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse tested negative, but he will work remotely from his home state and undergo further testing due to his "close interaction with multiple infected individuals," his office said.
-- With files from the Associated Press
