Pence, second lady test negative for coronavirus

Vice President Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, have tested negative for coronavirus, according to a statement tweeted by the vice president’s press secretary Katie Miller on Saturday evening. 

“Please to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President @Mike_Pence and Second Lady @KarenPence,” Miller tweeted. 

Pleased to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President @Mike_Pence and Second Lady @KarenPence.

— Katie Miller (@VPPressSec) March 22, 2020

Pence said earlier Saturday that he and the second lady would be tested for the coronavirus after a member of the vice president’s staff tested positive for COVID-19.

The person did not have direct contact with either President Trump or Mike Pence, the vice president said. However, Pence did report that his staffer is “doing well” and added that he was experiencing mild symptoms. 

The news also comes one week after Trump took a test himself following persistent questions from the media about why he hadn’t been screened for the coronavirus. 

The White House announced following the media appeals that the president had tested negative for the virus. 

Questions about whether Pence or Trump could potentially have the virus began after news emerged that a VIP attendee of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) tested positive for the virus and interacted with Trump allies, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Later, Trump was exposed to a Brazilian official during a meeting with the the Brazilian president in Florida who later had tested positive for the virus. 

Updated 9:51 p.m.