Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced their positive diagnoses after attending an elite dinner at the Gridiron Club in Washington on Saturday. Other contributors including a message from Vice President Kamala Harris. director Jamal Simmons and Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Adam Schiff also announced positive tests.
Line of positive cases drew attention in Washington for dinner at Gridiron event which brings together some of in the city the most prominent journalists, including from CNN, and government officials they cover. Participants were tested for vaccination status but did not test negative for Covid-19. required enter.
Tom DeFrank, President of The Gridiron Club said 14 guests at Saturday dinner tested positive and more cases can be expected.
“Because of 16:00 Wednesday, we know of 14 guests for Saturday dinner who gave a positive result for COVID-19. There is no way of be sure when they first contracted Covid,” DeFrank said.
But they interacted with other guests during the night and we have to be realistic and expect some more cases,” he continued. – With the exception of in cases of public officials who have on disclosed their status themselves, we will protect privacy of guests who test positive”.
Vice President, Close Contact
Harris was in close contact with simmons, who positive test result on Wednesday press secretary Kirsten Allen said.
“The Vice President will follow CDC Guide for those who were in close contact with positive person and will continue to advise with her doctor. vice president plans proceed with her public scheduleAllen said. in written statement.
In addition to attending dinner over weekend, Simmons was also on the picture in east room of White House during the passage of the Affordable Care Act event with President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama.
Biden is not considered a close contact of Simmons, White House official told CNN.
Inside the White House in conformity with federal public health guides, officials and visitors are not required wear masks or social distance. Visitors are expected to be tested for Covid-19 before visiting official White House events.
The Simmons case is not first touch the White House.
COVID-19 cases in Washington D.C. is declined since their peak in early January, when the country was facing wave of Cases of the Omicron variant. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser, said on Wednesday that he believes there will be a resurgence. in cases of COVID-19 in United States over in next a few weeks, and it is likely that there may be a surge in the fall.
“I think we should expect that over in next pair of weeks, we will see a surge in cases. And, I hope, the background immunity is enough not to cheat up with many of hospitalizations,” Fauci said. director of National Institute of Allergies and infectious diseases when Bloomberg TV’s David Westin asked about the outlook of another wave of Covid-19 from BA.2 or another option, given the level of it is believed that immunity exists in USA today.
This story was updated with additional details Wednesday.
Carl de Vries of CNN, M.J. Lee, Naomi Thomas contributed to this report.
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