White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Tests Positive For COVID-19

CBS News

Washington — White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced Monday she has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the latest official to contract the virus as it spreads through the White House.

"After testing negative consistently, including every day since Thursday, I tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning while experiencing no symptoms," she said in a statement posted to Twitter. McEnany said she did not know of Hope Hicks' diagnosis before she held a White House press briefing Thursday. She said she will quarantine and work remotely.

McEnany briefed reporters at the White House as recently as Sunday, without wearing a mask.

Meanwhile, the president continues treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center, and officials say he continues to make progress. He made a surprise trip out of the hospital on Sunday evening to greet well-wishers who have flocked to the medical facility, a move that came amid questions about the severity of his illness and the risk of infection to those around him.

Riding in the back of a black SUV and donning a mask, Mr. Trump was seen waving to his supporters during the brief jaunt, which he teased as a "little surprise" in a video on Twitter before departing the Maryland hospital. 

"It's been a very interesting journey," Mr. Trump said in his video. "I learned a lot about Covid."

The president's short trip prompted questions as to what precautions were taken to ensure the safety of Mr. Trump and those in the vehicle with him. Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, said Mr. Trump's doctors approved the outing and "appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the president and all those supporting it, including PPE."

The president's drive-by came hours after his medical team attempted to clear up confusion about his condition after providing limited — and conflicting — information Saturday. While his doctors said the president could be discharged for continued treatment at the White House as early as Monday, questions remain as to the severity of Mr. Trump's health status, as his doctors revealed he was given a dose of dexamethasone, a steroid, on Saturday after two episodes in which his oxygen levels dropped.

Dexamethasone is recommended by the World Health Organization for COVID-19 patients who are "critically ill." Mr. Trump also remains on the five-day course of remdesivir, which has been found to shorten recovery time for patients hospitalized with the coronavirus.