Mike Pompeo quarantining after exposure to COVID-19 patient; cancels holiday party

US State Department on December 16 anunced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is quarantining after coming into contact with someone who tested COVID positive. According to CNN, a State Department Spokesperson informed that Pompeo himself has been tested and is negative. However, spokesperson ded that he is being closely monitored by Department’s medical team. 

spokesperson said, “Secretary Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. For reasons of privacy we can’t identify that individual”. 

y ded, “ Secretary has been tested negative. In accordance with CDC guidelines, he will be in quarantine. He is being closely monitored by Department’s medical team”. 

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It is still unclear when or where Pompeo came into contact with individual who tested positive. A White House official informed that he did t attend President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting at White House which took place on Wednesday. Furr, State Department also cancelled a holiday reception for foreign missions in Washington that was due to take place at State Department later on Wednesday. 

top US official was also slated to meet with President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to succeed him, Anthony Blinken, on Thursday. However, w he will longer meet in person with Blinken, but it is unclear if meeting will take place virtually. Moreover, Washington Post reported that Pompeo cancelled a speech he was due to give at ar indoor holiday party that took place late on Tuesday and whose invites h been sent out to 900 people. 

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White House staffers to be vaccinated ‘later’ 

Meanwhile, Pompeo’s quarantining news comes after US President Donald Trump asserted that White House staffers should receive vaccine “later in programme”. While taking to Twitter, Trump h said that people working in WH should receive vaccine somewhat later in program, unless specifically necessary. He ded that he has asked justment to be me. 

Trump, on or hand, will also be vaccinated later. White House Press Secretary elaborated that Trump is still protected by antibodies after he h contracted highly-infectious disease in October. Even though Trump, along with many or White House officials have alrey contracted COVID-19, potentially, it has dampened ir need for immediate access to vaccine. As per guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, re is t yet eugh information for health experts to determine if individuals who have h COVID-19 should have vaccine. 

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