White House COVID-19 outbreak facts for kids
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| Disease | COVID-19 |
|---|---|
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | White House, Washington, D.C., USA |
| Arrival date | September 26, 2020 |
| Confirmed cases | At least 36 |
In September and October 2020, many people working at the White House got sick with COVID-19. This illness is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. This article explains what happened during this time.
Contents
What Happened at the White House?
How the Outbreak Started
In mid-September 2020, reports came out that a White House staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. This was just the beginning.
On October 1, several important people tested positive. These included then-President Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump (the First Lady), and his press advisor Hope Hicks. Other people who tested positive were presidential campaign manager Bill Stepien and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. Kellyanne Conway's daughter, Claudia Conway, also announced she had COVID-19 a few days later. On October 5, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany also shared that she had tested positive.
President Trump tested positive just days after a big debate with Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio. About eleven other people who worked at the debate also tested positive. Some of Trump's personal helpers who got him ready for the debates also became sick.
Many of these cases seemed to be linked to two main events. One was an event on September 26 at the White House. This event was to announce Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. The other was a fundraising event for Trump's campaign in Bedminster, New Jersey, on October 1.
On the same day, two Senators, Thom Tillis and Mike Lee, also tested positive. The president of the University of Notre Dame, John I. Jenkins, also got the virus. Three reporters who cover the White House, including Michael D. Shear, also tested positive.
On October 2, President Trump went to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment. Many other people connected to the White House also received a COVID-19 diagnosis that day.
How People Reacted
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When President Trump announced he had COVID-19, people wondered what would happen if a president became too sick to do their job. This was similar to concerns in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan was shot but survived.
The stock market, which shows how well companies are doing, briefly dropped after Trump's announcement. However, it recovered some losses when there was news about a possible economic relief plan.
Social media companies like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok announced rules about posts wishing for Trump's death. They said such posts would be removed because they went against their rules. Some politicians, like Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley, pointed out that threats against them had not been removed in the past.
Who Tested Negative?
Many important people tested negative for COVID-19 after the outbreak was announced. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence did not have the virus. Presidential candidate Joe Biden, his running mate Kamala Harris, and Biden's wife Jill Biden also tested negative.
Attorney General William Barr and Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett also tested negative. Many of Trump's family members, including Ivanka Trump, Barron Trump, Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., also received negative test results.
Images for kids
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Herman Cain died from COVID-19 on July 30, 2020
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President Trump addresses an unmasked crowd at a White House reception for Gold Star families on Sept. 27
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President Trump departs the White House for COVID-19 treatment on October 2, 2020
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Trump in the Walter Reed conference room, October 3. There were some reports of speculation that this photo was "staged".
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Trump speaking to a crowd in the White House grounds on October 10, 2020
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See also
In Spanish: Brote de COVID-19 en la Casa Blanca para niños
