Dr. Fauci Quarantined After Exposure To White House Staffers Who Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Dr. Anthony Fauci will undertake a “modified quarantine” after being exposed to a White House staff member that tested positive for COVID-19. The exposure Fauci had with the staffer is said to be “low-risk,” as he was not close to the individual, but the key figure in the U.S. government’s fight against coronavirus is taking no chances.

Under this quarantine, Fauci will be working from home and attending tele-meetings most of the time, though he has said that he might consider going to his office at the National Institutes of Health, since he would be the only person there. Additionally, he will be wearing a face mask most of the time and be tested for COVID-19 regularly. This quarantine will last 14 days.

Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has served a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force. In recent months, he has emerged as a beloved figure for his rational advice on dealing with the pandemic and has often countered President Trump’s ill-informed statements and estimates.

At his advanced age, 79, Fauci is considered to be at heightened risk from the novel coronavirus.

The White House has not revealed the specific staffer that is causing the concern with Fauci and others. However, Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, recently tested positive for coronavirus and has been known to attend task force meetings. Miller is married to Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller.

In addition to Fauci, FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield have also begun self-isolating due to exposure to infected staffers. It is not clear at this time if they were exposed to the same person as Fauci.