Donald Trump dismisses fears coronavirus is close to the White House

'I'm not concerned at all': 

Donald Trump dismisses 

fears coronavirus is close to 

the White House after CPAC 

attendee tested positive and 

the first DC case was 

confirmed while at dinner 

with Brazilian president Jair 

Bolsonaro

• President Donald Trump said he was not 'concerned at all' about how close the coronavirus was coming to the White House
• Yet just a few hours later, it was confirmed that a man in his 50s who lives in Washington, D.C., had tested positive for the virus
• The patient had not traveled or met with another patient with a confirmed case but is believed to have caught it via community spread
• American Conservative Union confirmed a case from last month's event in Maryland where Trump and Pence made speeches
• The ACU said in a statement that the patient had no contact with Trump
• The individual is now being treated and in quarantine in New Jersey

Daily Mail,

8 March, 2020

Coronavirus got one step closer to the White House on Saturday when the first case was confirmed in Washington DC - hours after Donald Trump said he was not 'concerned at all' about how close the virus was to his home.

'No, I'm not concerned at all,' the president said when asked about it after an attendee at CPAC was confirmed to have the disease and the first case was detected in Washington D.C. 'We've done a great job.'

And he said his campaign rallies, which include thousands of attendees, will continue even as other major gatherings - such as SXSW and next week's AFL-CIO gathering for the Democratic presidential contenders - have been canceled.

'We'll hold tremendous rallies,' he's said in response to a question from DailyMail.com at Mar-a-Lago during a meeting with the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Yet just a few hours later, it was confirmed that a man in his 50s who lives in Washington, D.C., had tested positive for the virus. He began exhibiting symptoms in late February and was hospitalized on March 5.

Mayor Muriel Bowser told New York Post: 'With his test yielding a presumptive positive, D.C. Health has started its investigation in keeping with CDC guidelines. This investigation includes contact tracing and providing guidance on next steps for care.'

The patient had not traveled or met with another patient with a confirmed case but is believed to have caught it via community spread.

The coronavirus is getting closer to the president and his circle after an attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference tested positive for the disease.

The American Conservative Union announced that one person at the event last month where President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made speeches was diagnosed with the deadly virus.

The announcement came as two more people succumbed to the disease in Washington state, officials there said on Saturday, bringing the nationwide toll to 19 deaths.

The ACU insisted the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland.

In a statement they said: 'The American Conservative Union has learned that one of our CPAC attendees has unfortunately tested positive today for coronavirus. The exposure occurred previous to the conference.

'A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result.

'The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.'

The attendee did not listen to any speeches in the main hall, the ACU confirmed.

President Trump pledged to protect the health and safety of Americans 'with vigor' during his speech at the event on February 29.

He also said he was ready to help Iran deal with an outbreak.

In a reprise of his appearance at last year's conservative conference, Trump hugged and kissed an American flag before he left the stage.

When he spoke just one American had died from COVID-19. As of Saturday afternoon, the U.S. death toll was 19, and 381 people had been infected. And a Marine at Virginia's Fort Belvoir became the first military case of coronavirus inside the U.S., a Pentagon official said on Saturday.

Several senior White House officials attended the event, including White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, White House senior counselor Jared Kushner, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway and the former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Donald Trump Jr was also there as were several members of the president's cabinet including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to reporters that precautions were being taken although she did not offer specifics.

'The White House is aware of an individual testing positive for coronavirus after attending the CPAC conference that took place nearly two weeks ago. At this time, there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee.

'The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House complex safe and heathy,' she said.'

Donald Trump Jr did not come into contact with the individual at CPAC, a spokesman said.

'It has been confirmed that Don did not come into contact with the individual that tested positive,' said a spokesman for the president's son told the Daily Mail.

Listen to journalist, Lee Stranahan on this 

HERE