A vaccinated senior aide for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has tested positive for COVID-19 after coming into contact with Texas Democrat lawmakers who traveled to Washington D.C. in an effort to deny the state legislature a quorum to pass new state election laws. A White House official has also reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Drew Hammill, the deputy chief of staff to Pelosi, confirmed the COVID-19 case in a statement to Axios on Tuesday. Hammill said, “Yesterday, a fully-vaccinated senior spokesperson in the Speaker’s press office tested positive for COVID after contact with members of the Texas state legislature last week.”
Pelosi’s staff member reportedly showed the delegation of Democratic Texas state lawmakers around the Capitol last week. The Texas state lawmakers fled the state to block a vote on Republican-led state election rule changes. Since arriving in D.C., six of the Texas lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19.
“The entire press office is working remotely today with the exception of individuals who have had no exposure to the individual or have had a recent negative test,” Hammill added. “Our office will continue to follow the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician closely.”
Axios also reported, based on a statement from a White House official, that a fully-vaccinated White House official tested positive for COVID-19 while off-campus.
“In accordance with our rigorous COVID-19 protocols, the official remains off campus as they wait for a confirmatory PCR test,” the White House statement said. “The White House Medical Unit has conducted contact tracing interviews and determined no close contacts among White House principals and staff. The individual has mild symptoms.”
The COVID-19 positive Pelosi aide and the White House official were both in attendance at a rooftop reception at the Hotel Eaton last Wednesday night, according to Axios.
Axios reported the White House official has not had any recent direct contact with President Biden. The Pelosi aide has also not had any contact with the speaker since testing positive.
On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Vice President Kamala Harris took a COVID-19 test after coming into contact with the Texas lawmakers.
“I think the Vice President’s Office put out that she was tested, and that she did — there was no detection of COVID-19,” Psaki said.
The White House told Axios it has prepared for “breakthrough cases” by implementing regular testing.
