As temperatures fall and coronavirus cases and deaths surge in the United States, a new wave of infections appears to have hit the White House as well. On Saturday evening, Marc Short, Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, tested positive for COVID-19.
Later that evening, Pence's office confirmed that Marty Obst, a senior political adviser to Pence who is not a government employee, had also tested positive.
In total, at least five close associates of the vice president have now tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The New York Times.
Pences test negative
Both Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, tested negative Saturday. Pence will not be suspending his movements despite having been in close contact with several of the aides who tested positive.
Both Pences also repeatedly tested negative after President Donald Trump and several other senior White House aides tested positive for the coronavirus in early October.
'Essential' Pence won't quarantine
Pence also then declined to self-isolate, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, continuing regular administrative and campaign operations.
Aides on Sunday asserted that Pence is not subject to recommended quarantine because he is an "essential" government official.
“While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel," Devin O'Malley, a Pence spokesperson, said in a statement.
"He's not just campaigning, he's working" in the vice president's office, said White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on CNN's "State of the Union."
Who were the staffers who tested positive?
Meadows also declined to share the identity of the other staffers who had tested positive, noting that "sharing personal information is not something that we should do." But he added, "Anytime there's someone in harm's way, we have an obligation to let people know for contract-tracing."
Meadows also said that Pence, who is the head of the White House's coronavirus task force, will be wearing a mask and social distancing during his campaign trips on Sunday.
Short, but not Obst, traveled with Pence to Indiana Thursday and interacted with the supporters who came out for Pence's rally in Fort Wayne.
Short did not travel with Pence to Florida on Saturday. Aides who had been in close contact with Short were pulled from the trip before departure.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marc Short, other Mike Pence aides positive for COVID-19: What we know