The EU has hit back at Donald Trump after the president addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night to announce a 30-day emergency travel restriction on 26 European nations because of the coronavirus, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen condemning a decision made “unilaterally and without consultation”.
US commentators were quick to express concern about the “militaristic, nationalistic” tone of the president’s drastic decree, with Obama staff Susan Rice, Ben Rhodes and David Litt all taking to Twitter to voice their fears. “He’s gonna get us all killed,” wrote Litt, not entirely joking.
As the press secretary of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro reportedly tested positive for the virus days of meeting Trump, the White House has cancelled St Patrick’s Day celebrations with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar and Trump 2020 events in Colorado, Nevada and Wisconsin in the interest of safeguarding the public.
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Senate recess delayed as lawmakers debate coronavirus legislation
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called off a planned recess as Congress presses forward with emergency relief measures.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called off a planned recess as Congress presses forward with emergency relief measures.
Biden says lack of paid sick leave a 'national disgrace' in attack on Trump's response
Joe Biden unveiled his own plan to combat the coronavirus spread following Donald Trump's dramatic announcement of a ban on all travel from Europe despite warnings from public health officials that a surge of community infections within the US is inevitable.
Joe Biden unveiled his own plan to combat the coronavirus spread following Donald Trump's dramatic announcement of a ban on all travel from Europe despite warnings from public health officials that a surge of community infections within the US is inevitable.
Offering the White House his campaign's own plan to face the outbreak, the former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate called for increased transparency, including daily updates of the number of Covid-19 tests performed, as well as positive diagnoses, and for the installation of at least 10 mobile testing and drive-though sites in each state.
Mr Biden called the lack of a comprehensive federal paid sick leave policy a "national disgrace" as millions of American workers could face cut hours or layoffs and quarantines that could significant impact their incomes.
He said the president's recently announced plans to combat the virus shouldn't "fall back on xenophobia" after Mr Trump called the flu-like respiratory illness a "foreign virus" in his Wednesday night address to the nation.
"Downplaying it or being overly dismissive or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage of the spread of disease", Mr Biden said on Thursday. "Neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia. Labelling it a 'foreign virus' does not displace accountability for the misjudgements that have been taken thus far from the Trump administration."
Fed to pump $1.5 trillion into economy as markets plummet
In an aggressive and dramatic move on Thursday, the Federal Reserve Bank is injecting $1.5 trillion into the US financial system to "address highly unusual disruptions" associated with the coronavirus outbreak, as Wall Street looks to one of its worst weeks in decades.
The Fed, essentially the governing back of the US, is pumping short-term cash loans into banks and flooding the market with liquidity and buying "a range of maturities to roughly match the maturity composition of Treasury securities outstanding" in an attempt to ease the free-falling economy.
CDC director repeats 'Europe is the new China' as president falsely claims Americans are being tested after travel
Following Donald Trump's emergency ban on travel from Europe in the wake of the coronavirus spread, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that cases in at least 30 states are linked to cases that originated from Europe.
Following Donald Trump's emergency ban on travel from Europe in the wake of the coronavirus spread, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that cases in at least 30 states are linked to cases that originated from Europe.
Dr Robert Redfield told the House Oversight Committee that "30 states or more were linked actually to cases in Europe," which he called "the new China.”
Meanwhile, the president lied from the White House, telling reporters that "any American coming back or anybody's coming back, we have a tremendous testing set up where people coming in have to be tested."
Senate Republican: Senate will take up coronavirus funding bill 'when we come back' as lawmakers call for action on 'failing' tests
Senator Lamar Alexander claims that the Senate will wait until after its recess to vote on legislation that would provide emergency funding in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak while Americans brace for closures, lost incomes and healthcare shortfalls.
The Senate isn't scheduled to return until 23 March.
Earlier today, Alexander and dozens of other lawmakers in DC — as the Capitol begins to shutter — admitted a "serious deficiency" in the nation's testing abilities.
In a briefing, the director of the Centers for Disease Control said the current testing abilities are "failing."
"Let's admit it," he said.
Senator Lamar Alexander claims that the Senate will wait until after its recess to vote on legislation that would provide emergency funding in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak while Americans brace for closures, lost incomes and healthcare shortfalls.
The Senate isn't scheduled to return until 23 March.
Earlier today, Alexander and dozens of other lawmakers in DC — as the Capitol begins to shutter — admitted a "serious deficiency" in the nation's testing abilities.
In a briefing, the director of the Centers for Disease Control said the current testing abilities are "failing."
"Let's admit it," he said.
Trump poses for photos with Brazilian press secretary
The president appeared in photographs with the Brazilian press secretary who tested positive for coronavirus:
The Independent's Danielle Zoellner has more on the press secretary for Brazil's president who tested positive for coronavirus after meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago:
A Brazilian senior official who was with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago has since tested positive for the coronavirus, reports say.
Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary for Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for Covid-19.
Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary for Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for Covid-19.
Brazil official who met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago has coronavirus, reports say
The IndependentA Brazilian senior official who was with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago has since tested positive for the coronavirus, reports say. Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary for Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for Covid-19. More follows…Will Donald Trump be exposed to the coronavirus?
The Independent's Clark Mindock once again raises the question of what might happen if the president were to test positive for the coronavirus after reports indicated the Brazilian president's press secretary tested positive for the mysterious illness.
Breaking News: Senior Brazil official tests positive for coronavirus, reports say
The senior official from Brazil who was reportedly exposed to coronavirus before visiting Mar-a-Lago has tested positive for the mysterious illness.
This is a breaking news story. More to come...
Does Donald Trump know his own coronavirus strategy?
Officials quickly corrected Donald Trump’s seemingly unfounded claims in an Oval Office address about the coronavirus and steps his administration had allegedly taken to secure treatment with no co-payments for Americans who contract the illness.
At first, it sounded like the White House administration achieved a major victory in its efforts to combat the spread of the global pandemic, as the president discussed a meeting he held with executives from several major health insurance companies.
“Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry,” he said, “who have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing."
If accurate, the announcement would mean Americans don’t have to worry about facing out-of-pocket expenses when seeking treatment for coronavirus, which is far more expensive than the initial testing required to confirm a patient has contracted the mysterious new illness.
But shortly after the speech, a spokesperson for one of the leading trade associations for private health insurers in the US fact-checked the president while denying fees would be waived for treatment.
My latest:
The Independent's Oliver O'Connell has more on the coronavirus' latest impact on the stock market:
US stocks continued to fall on Thursday morning after President Donald Trump's Wednesday night Oval Office speech aimed at calming markets.
On opening, all three major Wall Street indices, The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq all plunged, triggering the automatic 'circuit breakers' that halt trading.
Trading stopped for 15 minutes to establish order in the market, and resumed at 9.50am.
Markets continued to fall with the Dow down almost 9 per cent by 10am.
'Circuit breakers' kick in when the market drops by specified percentages against the prior day's S&P 500 closing price. There are three levels.
Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, the 'Trump of the Tropics', is being tested for coronavirus
The plot thickens...
The plot thickens...
Trump has been bashing out retweets from the CDC, its administrator Seema Verma and his own health secretary Alex Azar this morning but the good folk of Harvard are not impressed.
Trump's coronavirus travel ban conveniently excludes the only countries where he owns resorts
Oh how perfect.
Here's Louis Staples to get outraged on your behalf for Indy100.
Oh how perfect.
Here's Louis Staples to get outraged on your behalf for Indy100.
‘Trump is gonna get us all killed’: Former presidential speechwriters deliver damning assessment of coronavirus address
Chris Baynes has more on the reaction against the president's address last night.
Chris Baynes has more on the reaction against the president's address last night.
Congress acts to rein-in Trump on military action against Iran
Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran.
The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his "hands were tied, Iran would have a field day."
The resolution, sponsored by Virginia Democratic senator Tim Kaine, declares that Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters say the measure is not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.
Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats and independent Justin Amash of Michigan to support the measure. Six Democrats and 180 Republicans opposed it. In the Senate last month, eight Republicans backed the resolution.
The resolution "sends a clear message that the American people don't want war with Iran and that Congress has not authorized war with Iran," said New York Democrat Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
While tensions with Iran have abated since a US drone strike that killed Iran's top general in early January, the resolution clarifying Congress' power to declare war is still important, Engel said.
"Congress doesn't have to wait until the president alone decides to use military force again," Engel told House members during floor debate Wednesday. "It's our responsibility to do something, because we know the tensions could flare up again at a moment's notice. Iran has not been deterred as the administration promised."
Texas congressman Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the war powers measure "divisive and irresponsible" and based on a false premise.
"It orders the president to terminate hostilities against Iran. The problem is, for the other side, we are not engaged in hostilities in Iran," McCaul said. If the US military launches strikes in Iran, "I believe that the president would need to come before this body to ask for a new authorization" for the use of force, McCaul said. "But that is not what we are facing."
The House vote marked a rare exertion of authority from Congress, which also moved to impose restrictions on US involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey. Trump promptly vetoed that measure.
The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding resolution on Iran in January, a few weeks before the Senate approved Kaine's resolution. Two-thirds votes in the House and the GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto.
Kaine hailed the House vote.
"For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made clear that we shouldn't be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress," he said in a statement.
The legislation "doesn't prevent the president from defending the United States against imminent attack," but instead "demands that the decision of whether or not we go on offense and send our troops into harm's way should only be made after serious deliberation and a vote of Congress," Kaine added. "If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law."
In a statement of administration policy, the White House said the resolution should be rejected "because it attempts to hinder the president's ability to protect" US diplomats, forces, allies and partners, including Israel, from the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies, including militia groups and foreign fighters in Syria.
"Iran has a long history of attacking United States and coalition forces both directly and through its proxies," the White House said, adding the congressional resolution could hinder Trump's ability to protect US forces and interests in the region.
"This joint resolution is untimely and misguided. Its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens whom Iran continues to seek to harm," the White House said.
Tehran responded to the US attack on its top general, Qassem Soleimani, by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in more than 100 US soldiers, the Pentagon said.
Democrats and Republicans alike criticised a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying US officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.
Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power over military conflict. At the request of Republican senators, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favor of a generalised statement declaring Congress has sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress and commends Trump for killing Soleimani, who was long designated a terrorist by the US.
"No one lamented the loss of Mr Soleimani. No one," said House majority leader Steny Hoyer. "That's not what this bill is about."
The resolution "is about our Constitution, the authority of this body to declare or not declare war," Hoyer added. "It ought to be the representatives of the people that take them to war, not a president - any president, Democrat or Republican. This is about our responsibility."
AP
Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran.
The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his "hands were tied, Iran would have a field day."
The resolution, sponsored by Virginia Democratic senator Tim Kaine, declares that Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters say the measure is not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.
Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats and independent Justin Amash of Michigan to support the measure. Six Democrats and 180 Republicans opposed it. In the Senate last month, eight Republicans backed the resolution.
The resolution "sends a clear message that the American people don't want war with Iran and that Congress has not authorized war with Iran," said New York Democrat Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
While tensions with Iran have abated since a US drone strike that killed Iran's top general in early January, the resolution clarifying Congress' power to declare war is still important, Engel said.
"Congress doesn't have to wait until the president alone decides to use military force again," Engel told House members during floor debate Wednesday. "It's our responsibility to do something, because we know the tensions could flare up again at a moment's notice. Iran has not been deterred as the administration promised."
Texas congressman Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the war powers measure "divisive and irresponsible" and based on a false premise.
"It orders the president to terminate hostilities against Iran. The problem is, for the other side, we are not engaged in hostilities in Iran," McCaul said. If the US military launches strikes in Iran, "I believe that the president would need to come before this body to ask for a new authorization" for the use of force, McCaul said. "But that is not what we are facing."
The House vote marked a rare exertion of authority from Congress, which also moved to impose restrictions on US involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey. Trump promptly vetoed that measure.
The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding resolution on Iran in January, a few weeks before the Senate approved Kaine's resolution. Two-thirds votes in the House and the GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto.
Kaine hailed the House vote.
"For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made clear that we shouldn't be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress," he said in a statement.
The legislation "doesn't prevent the president from defending the United States against imminent attack," but instead "demands that the decision of whether or not we go on offense and send our troops into harm's way should only be made after serious deliberation and a vote of Congress," Kaine added. "If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law."
In a statement of administration policy, the White House said the resolution should be rejected "because it attempts to hinder the president's ability to protect" US diplomats, forces, allies and partners, including Israel, from the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies, including militia groups and foreign fighters in Syria.
"Iran has a long history of attacking United States and coalition forces both directly and through its proxies," the White House said, adding the congressional resolution could hinder Trump's ability to protect US forces and interests in the region.
"This joint resolution is untimely and misguided. Its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens whom Iran continues to seek to harm," the White House said.
Tehran responded to the US attack on its top general, Qassem Soleimani, by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in more than 100 US soldiers, the Pentagon said.
Democrats and Republicans alike criticised a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying US officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.
Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power over military conflict. At the request of Republican senators, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favor of a generalised statement declaring Congress has sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress and commends Trump for killing Soleimani, who was long designated a terrorist by the US.
"No one lamented the loss of Mr Soleimani. No one," said House majority leader Steny Hoyer. "That's not what this bill is about."
The resolution "is about our Constitution, the authority of this body to declare or not declare war," Hoyer added. "It ought to be the representatives of the people that take them to war, not a president - any president, Democrat or Republican. This is about our responsibility."
AP
Trump 'urged Steve Mnuchin to pressure Federal Reserve over coronavirus'
The president tried to get his Treasury secretary to push Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell to do more to boost the economy and stem the stock market's decline, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The president's latest attempt to get the US central bank to do his bidding came during what The Post described as an "explosive tirade" at a Monday meeting in the Oval Office, citing three unnamed White House officials and one unnamed senior Republican.
US stocks have led a global decline over the past week and half as the coronavirus spread from China to the rest of the world in what the World Health Organization on Wednesday termed a pandemic. Investors are increasingly worried that measures taken to stop the spread, including the unprecedented lockdown of millions of people in China and Italy, could help drive the world into recession.
The Fed slashed rates last Tuesday to help the economy and bolster household and business confidence, and is expected to do so again next week at its regularly scheduled policy-setting meeting.
As markets have dropped, Trump has told several people close to him that he would like to remove Powell from office, The Post report said. It is unclear if the president has the legal authority to do so, and Powell has said he will serve his full four-year term, which ends in 2022.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for keeping interest rates too high, even as the Fed last year cut rates three times, blaming the Fed's policy for holding back economic growth. Last June, Trump said he had the "right to fire" Powell, and in August Trump said he would not try to stop Powell if he offered to resign.
The Fed guards its political independence closely, and officials consider its ability to set rates without fear of reprisal or influence from the administration or Congress as key to its credibility and effectiveness.
Here's how the markets reacted to the president's drastic travel ban.
The president tried to get his Treasury secretary to push Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell to do more to boost the economy and stem the stock market's decline, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The president's latest attempt to get the US central bank to do his bidding came during what The Post described as an "explosive tirade" at a Monday meeting in the Oval Office, citing three unnamed White House officials and one unnamed senior Republican.
US stocks have led a global decline over the past week and half as the coronavirus spread from China to the rest of the world in what the World Health Organization on Wednesday termed a pandemic. Investors are increasingly worried that measures taken to stop the spread, including the unprecedented lockdown of millions of people in China and Italy, could help drive the world into recession.
The Fed slashed rates last Tuesday to help the economy and bolster household and business confidence, and is expected to do so again next week at its regularly scheduled policy-setting meeting.
As markets have dropped, Trump has told several people close to him that he would like to remove Powell from office, The Post report said. It is unclear if the president has the legal authority to do so, and Powell has said he will serve his full four-year term, which ends in 2022.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for keeping interest rates too high, even as the Fed last year cut rates three times, blaming the Fed's policy for holding back economic growth. Last June, Trump said he had the "right to fire" Powell, and in August Trump said he would not try to stop Powell if he offered to resign.
The Fed guards its political independence closely, and officials consider its ability to set rates without fear of reprisal or influence from the administration or Congress as key to its credibility and effectiveness.
Here's how the markets reacted to the president's drastic travel ban.
Sarah Palin appears on The Masked Singer as rapping bear
If you thought that was odd, check out the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor making a fool of herself on reality TV below.
If you thought that was odd, check out the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor making a fool of herself on reality TV below.
Fox having to cut away from this surreal spectacle to Bret Baier introducing Trump's travel ban address was a truly iconic moment.
Here's Greg Evans to pick over the ruins of civilisation as we know it for Indy100.
Ex-presidential candidate Marianne Williamson’s 'coronavirus meditation' goes viral
Remember the Texan author and spiritual guru's short-lived presidential campaign?
A genuinely unique voice in the race, Williamson has sadly long since dropped out but has now resurfaced on YouTube to offer a meditation session in an attempt to put the public at ease over the coronavirus.
The trouble is, internet wags have circulated a heavily edited version of her quasi-sermon, and it's that that people are watching.
Williamson though is seeing the funny side:
Remember the Texan author and spiritual guru's short-lived presidential campaign?
A genuinely unique voice in the race, Williamson has sadly long since dropped out but has now resurfaced on YouTube to offer a meditation session in an attempt to put the public at ease over the coronavirus.
The trouble is, internet wags have circulated a heavily edited version of her quasi-sermon, and it's that that people are watching.
Williamson though is seeing the funny side:
EU hits back over Trump's European travel bam
The EU has hit back at Donald Trump after the president addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night to announce a 30-day emergency travel restriction on 26 European nations because of the coronavirus, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Council president Charles Michel condemning a decision made “unilaterally and without consultation”.
"The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," the pair said in a statement. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation."
They added that the EU is taking "strong" measures to limit the spread of the virus.
A number of European ambassadors in Washington have meanwhile told CNN they didn’t know the development was in the works, despite having been in contact with the administration over the past few days.
One ambassador said there was “no indication” Trump would go to the lengths he has, while another spokesperson said German officials had no advanced warning this was coming.
“We knew something was coming on travel from Europe but not this drastic," the Belgian ambassador told CNN. "What is not understandable is the exception for the UK and the lack of national measures.”
Here's more from Jon Stone.
The EU has hit back at Donald Trump after the president addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night to announce a 30-day emergency travel restriction on 26 European nations because of the coronavirus, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Council president Charles Michel condemning a decision made “unilaterally and without consultation”.
"The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," the pair said in a statement. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation."
They added that the EU is taking "strong" measures to limit the spread of the virus.
A number of European ambassadors in Washington have meanwhile told CNN they didn’t know the development was in the works, despite having been in contact with the administration over the past few days.
One ambassador said there was “no indication” Trump would go to the lengths he has, while another spokesperson said German officials had no advanced warning this was coming.
“We knew something was coming on travel from Europe but not this drastic," the Belgian ambassador told CNN. "What is not understandable is the exception for the UK and the lack of national measures.”
Here's more from Jon Stone.
Brazilian official who met Trump being checked out as Senate staffer tests positive
A Brazilian government official who attended an official meeting at Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the US president is being tested for coronavirus, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Wednesday.
Fabio Wajngarten is Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary and he accompanied the far-right leader on a visit to Florida that included dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
In response to the article, Wajngarten wrote on Twitter that he is healthy. However, he did not deny that he tested for the virus after returning to Brazil.
In the column by journalist Monica Bergamo, the newspaper said Wajngarten was tested for coronavirus at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and the result would be ready on Thursday.
"Despite what the rotten media have already said about my religion, my family and my company, now they are talking about my health. But I am well," Wajngarten tweeted. In the photo he posted on Instagram, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a "Make Brazil great again" cap. Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.
Brazil's Health Ministry has so far reported 52 confirmed cases of the virus that the World Health Organisation has now labelled a pandemic, but has not had any deaths.
Meanwhile, in DC, a staffer in the office of Washington senator Maria Cantwell has tested positive for coronavirus and been isolated.
"The individual who tested positive for Covid-19 has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress. The senator is requesting that testing be done on any other staffers who have been in contact with the individual and show symptoms," her office said in a statement.
Tours of the Capitol are expected to be stopped imminently by the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms, one source told The Hill, with DC currently operating in a state of emergency because of Covid-19.
A Brazilian government official who attended an official meeting at Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the US president is being tested for coronavirus, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Wednesday.
Fabio Wajngarten is Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary and he accompanied the far-right leader on a visit to Florida that included dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
In response to the article, Wajngarten wrote on Twitter that he is healthy. However, he did not deny that he tested for the virus after returning to Brazil.
In the column by journalist Monica Bergamo, the newspaper said Wajngarten was tested for coronavirus at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and the result would be ready on Thursday.
"Despite what the rotten media have already said about my religion, my family and my company, now they are talking about my health. But I am well," Wajngarten tweeted. In the photo he posted on Instagram, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a "Make Brazil great again" cap. Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.
Brazil's Health Ministry has so far reported 52 confirmed cases of the virus that the World Health Organisation has now labelled a pandemic, but has not had any deaths.
Meanwhile, in DC, a staffer in the office of Washington senator Maria Cantwell has tested positive for coronavirus and been isolated.
"The individual who tested positive for Covid-19 has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress. The senator is requesting that testing be done on any other staffers who have been in contact with the individual and show symptoms," her office said in a statement.
Tours of the Capitol are expected to be stopped imminently by the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms, one source told The Hill, with DC currently operating in a state of emergency because of Covid-19.
