Covid-19 is spreading further among those around US President Donald Trump, with White House adviser Stephen Miller and a top military official infected.
Mr. Miller, who has been self-isolating for the past five days, confirmed he had contracted coronavirus on Tuesday.
Top US General Mark Milley and other military leaders are also quarantining after Coast Guard official Admiral Charles Ray tested positive.
Other officials are self-isolating “out of an abundance of caution”.
In a statement, Mr. Miller said he had been “testing negative every day” until Tuesday, adding that he was now in quarantine.
His wife, Katie Miller, who is Vice-President Mike Pence’s spokeswoman, contracted the virus back in May and later recovered.
In July, Mr. Miller’s 97-year-old grandmother, Ruth Glosser, reportedly died due to complications with Covid-19.
The White House denied that coronavirus had caused Mrs. Glosser’s death, saying in a statement she “died peacefully in her sleep from old age”.
But Mr. Miller’s uncle produced a death certificate listing “respiratory arrest” and Covid-19 as “a condition leading” to the cause of Mrs. Glosser’s death.
Mr. Miller – who writes the president’s speeches – is known for his hardline views on immigration.
What’s the latest on the US military leaders?
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Adm Ray, vice-commandant of the US Coast Guard, is said to be experiencing mild symptoms.
While officials who attended meetings with Adm Ray last week are now quarantining, none have so far tested positive or exhibited symptoms, the Pentagon said.
It is not known how Adm Ray contracted the virus. The admiral attended an event at the White House about 10 days ago but it is not clear if he contracted the virus there or elsewhere, officials told the Associated Press news agency.
Mr. Trump and other White House officials have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days.
The Coast Guard said in a statement that Adm Ray tested positive on Monday and was now isolating at home. It added that any Coast Guard personnel who were in close contact with him would also quarantine.
BBC partner CBS News reported that nearly all members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – a body consisting of senior military officials who advise the US president – were in quarantine after attending meetings with Adm Ray last week.
In addition to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen Milley, it said others in quarantine included the vice-chief of staff, Army chief of staff, chief of naval operations, Air Force chief of staff, CyberCom commander, the Space Force chief, chief of the National Guard and deputy commandant of the Marine Corps.
BBC
