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Report: Pence Scales Back Public Appearances But Keeps Traveling After Office Covid Outbreak

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Oct 26, 2020, 01:57pm EDT

Topline

Vice President Mike Pence will reportedly skip Monday’s Supreme Court confirmation vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett and take extra precautions during his upcoming campaign trips, a slight display of caution after several aides close to Pence tested positive for Covid-19 — though the vice president still plans to keep campaigning despite his possible exposure.

Key Facts

Pence is scheduled to visit Minnesota for a campaign rally on Monday, but he will not stop to greet supporters after the event or sit for any interviews with local media outlets, and he will travel with a smaller team than usual, CNN reported.

The vice president is also expected to steer clear of the Senate floor during Barrett’s confirmation Monday, CNN reported, reversing initial plans for him to preside over the vote and stand by in the unlikely event that a tiebreaker is needed.

Pence tested negative for the coronavirus Monday morning, his office said, but he has drawn criticism for his decision not to quarantine over the weekend after he was potentially exposed to the virus through numerous aides.

The Vice President’s Office, and President Donald Trump’s campaign, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Big Number

Five. That’s the number of people in Pence’s orbit who have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days. The mini-outbreak includes Pence’s Chief of Staff Marc Short, political advisor Marty Obst, and several staffers in the Vice President’s Office.

Key Background

Members of Pence’s staff began reporting positive tests on Saturday, prompting fears that the coronavirus is once again spreading at the top levels of the federal government. Despite the risk, Pence did not cancel his rally in North Carolina on Sunday, and he is planning on campaigning extensively for the president in the final days before the election. Meanwhile, the White House defended Pence’s decision not to quarantine by dubbing him an “essential worker,” and Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly tried to avoid publicly disclosing Short’s positive test. It’s reminiscent of earlier this month, when Pence declined to self-isolate or cancel campaign events after Trump tested positive for the virus.

Crucial Quote

“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,” Pence spokesperson Devin O’Malley said in a statement Saturday.

Tangent

The White House is reportedly planning to celebrate Barrett’s confirmation vote with an in-person outdoor gathering, even though Barrett’s now-infamous nomination ceremony last month was linked to more than a dozen coronavirus cases and has been deemed a superspreader event. Meadows said the White House will encourage social distancing at the Barrett celebration, though he did not say whether masks will be required.

Further Reading

Infection of Pence Aides Raises New Questions About Trump’s Virus Response (New York Times)

Pence And Biden Tested Negative For Covid-19; Here’s Why They’re Still At Risk (Forbes)

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