US VP Pence tests COVID negative after Trump positive

Vice President Mike Pence tested negative for coronavirus on Friday morning after it was revealed President Trump tested positive for virus.

vice president who is next in to take over duties of president should Trump become incapacitated due to illness "remains in good health,"  his spokesman said.

Several members of Trump's Cabinet were undergoing testing for COVID-19 Friday.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, fourth in line for presidency, tested negative shortly before he landed in Croatia. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also tested negative, while Attorney General William Barr was to undergo a test Friday morning.

Multiple White House staffers have previously tested positive for virus, including Pence's press secretary Katie Miller, national security viser Robert O'Brien and one of president's personal valets.

White House began instituting a daily testing regimen for president's senior aides after earlier positive cases close to president. Anyone in close proximity to president or vice president is also tested every day, including reporters.

While re is currently indication that Trump is seriously ill, positive test raises questions about what would happen if he were to become incapacitated due to illness.

Constitution's 25th Amendment spells out procedures under which president can declare himself "unable to discharge powers and duties" of presidency. If he were to make that call, Trump would transmit a written te to Senate president pro tempore, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Pence would serve as acting president until Trump transmitted "a written declaration to contrary."

vice president and a majority of eir Cabinet or ar body established by law can also declare president unable to discharge powers and duties of his office, in which case Pence would "immediately assume powers and duties of office as Acting President" until Trump could provide a written declaration to contrary.

For most people, virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But it can cause severe symptoms in and be fatal for ors, especially older ults and people with existing health problems.

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