A journalist who was at the White House last week is suspected to have coronavirus

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A journalist who was at the White House last week is suspected to have coronavirus
Donald Trump

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

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President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper looks on during the daily White House coronavirus response briefing with members of his administration's coronavirus task force at the White House in Washington, DC, March 18, 2020.

  • A journalist who has been at the White House several times in recent weeks is suspected to have the novel coronavirus.
  • "We have been informed that one of our colleagues has a suspected case of COVID-19. The individual was at the White House on March 9, 11, 16 and 18," the White House Correspondents Association president said in an email to colleagues.
  • The White House has been conducting daily briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, which President Donald Trump has generally attended.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A journalist who was at the White House several times in the past month, including twice last week, is suspected to have the novel coronavirus.

"We have been informed that one of our colleagues has a suspected case of COVID-19. The individual was at the White House on March 9, 11, 16 and 18," White House Correspondents Association president Jonathan Karl said in an email to members on Monday. "The WHCA has been in contact with the official's news organization and the office of the White House physician."

The email encouraged all members who were at the White House during this time period to review public health guidance, consult their medical professionals, and take the appropriate next steps.

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The White House has been conducting daily press briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, which has raised questions about safety with reporters and key officials - including President Donald Trump - standing or sitting close to one another in a relatively confined setting for a prolonged period.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top expert on infectious disease, addressed these concerns in an interview with Science Insider on Sunday.

"We should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences," Fauci said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges people to create "distance between yourself and other people" if COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel cornavirus, is in their communities. As of Monday afternoon, the novel coronavirus has spread to over 40,000 people in all 50 states and Washington, DC, leading to nearly 500 deaths.

Get the latest coronavirus news and updates on how COVID-19 impacts our daily lives and businesses.

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