President Trump, Vice President Pence To 'Maintain Physical Distance' From Each Other

With COVID-19 already reaching the White House and infecting two of its staff, the two most powerful men in the United States will need to distance themselves from each other to prevent the spread of the virus from among the ranks of the Oval Office.

A senior administration official told ABC News that U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will “maintain a physical distance from each other in the immediate future” after consulting and the eventual advice of the White House Medical Unit.

The decision came in the wake of the president's personal valet testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Vice President Pence's press secretary, Katie Miller, also contracted the virus. The West Wing cases also urged the White House to implement stricter rules, such as observing the mandatory six-feet physical distancing during meetings and wearing of face masks.

The White House also came up with a list who will be tested for COVID-19, while those who are scheduled to meet President Trump on a particular day will also be tested.

Both the President and the Vice President were last seen together Thursday, said NPR.

President Trump suggested in a meeting Monday that he will be keeping his distance from the Vice President “for the time being,” although he added that both can still “talk on the phone.”

The COVID-19 cases in the White House also raised some concerns on whether the nation can safely reopen, but President Trump is confident that the move will push through, saying that he felt “no vulnerability whatsoever.”

“I want our country to open. I want it open safely, but I want it open,” said the President.

Vice President Pence meanwhile spent his Monday at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building where he followed the “guidelines for critical infrastructure workers” mandated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an official told ABC News.

The said guidelines advises people to have their temperatures checked before going to work, monitor for any symptoms, wear face masks while in the workplace and observe physical distancing, among others. Vice president Pence did his part by wearing a face mask, the outlet added.