A White House military aide - reportedly part of a unit working closely alongside United States President Donald Trump - has tested positive for coronavirus, but Mr Trump has not been infected, a spokesman said Thursday.
"We were recently notified by the White House Medical Unit that a member of the United States Military, who works on the White House campus, has tested positive for coronavirus," Mr Trump's deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said.
"The president and the vice president have since tested negative for the virus and they remain in great health."
According to a report by CNN, the military member in question is in the navy and works in a unit providing valet services to Mr Trump.
Mr Trump, his immediate entourage and guests to the White House are regularly given tests that provide results within about 15 minutes.
However, there are potential gaps in the screening, including journalists who may come within a short distance of the president but are not tested.
"No matter what you do, testing is not a perfect art," Mr Trump said.
"So we test once a week. Now we're going to get tested once a day. I've had very little contact with this gentleman. Know who he is, good person... yeah it's a little bit strange, but it's one of those things."
The president has steadfastly refused to wear a mask in public, as do his top officials, although the practice is encouraged by his own government guidelines.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
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