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Mike Pence's Chief Of Staff Tests Positive For COVID-19

Marc Short is the latest on a laundry list of people in or close to the Trump Administration to test positive for the coronavirus.
Mike Pence's Chief Of Staff Tests Positive For COVID-19
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 02: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his chief of staff Mark Short confer during a meeting with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives in Cabinet Room of the White House on March 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. Also pictured, from L to R, Debbie Brix, White House Corona Virus Response Coordinator, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. President Trump and his Coronavirus Task Force team met with pharmaceutical companies representatives who are actively working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
By Kirsten West Savali ·
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Marc Short, Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, becoming the latest in a laundry list of people in or close to the Trump Administration to test positive for the virus, including President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and their son, Barron Trump.

“Today, Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, tested positive for COVID-19, began quarantine and assisting in the contact tracing process,” Pence’s press secretary Devin O’Malley said in a statement. “Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for COVID-19 today, and remain in good health.”

Marty Obst, one of Pence’s senior adviser’s, tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week, but is not considered a close contact to the vice president. According to O’Malley, even though Short is considered a close contact according to CDC guidelines, Pence will neither stop nor reduce his campaign schedule, the Hill reports.

Mike Pence’s Chief Of Staff Tests Positive For COVID-19
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 09: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the daily coronavirus briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 09, 2020 in Washington, DC. More than 16 million Americans have filed unemployment claims over the past three weeks as a result of the economic impacts on the U.S. economy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

According to CNN, the US recorded more than 83,000 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, which is the nation’s highest one-day number of new cases—and 6,000 higher—than the country’s previous record set in July. To date, the United States has had 8.58 million COVID-19 cases and 224,ooo deaths.

Pence serves as Chair of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.