White House Hosted COVID ‘Superspreader’ Event: Dr Fauci

The White House was criticized by top US virus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci for holding a meeting last month that was related to a Covid-19 outbreak, reports the BBC.

Dr. Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force of the White House, said the announcement of his judicial nominee by the president was a "superspreader incident."

According to news, hundreds of White House aides and other contacts were tainted.

President Donald Trump has just been cleared by his physicians to attend public appearances as he recovers from Covid-19 himself.

Mr Trump, who was released from hospital after three nights on Monday, conducted a medical "assessment" on Fox News on Friday night.

He is expected to host an in-person White House event on Saturday.

What did Dr Fauci say?

CBS News asked on Friday what Dr Fauci thought of the White House's reluctance to insist on mask-wearing and social distancing as virus precautions, and instead rely on regular testing.

"The data speak for themselves - we had a superspreader event in the White House, and it was in a situation where people were crowded together and were not wearing masks."

Over the past six months, Dr. Fauci has noted that experts have suggested mask-wearing and condemned talk of a "cure" coronavirus-a term used by Mr. Trump in reference to the experimental Covid-19 treatments he received during his recent stay at a military hospital.

An event at the White House on Saturday, September 26, for the naming of Amy Coney Barrett as a judge of the Supreme Court by the president, is suspected to be the source of the localized outbreak, as many participants have since tested positive

Large gatherings are still banned in the nation's capital due to Covid-19, but federal property like the White House is exempt.

What events does Mr Trump have planned?

Mr Trump will deliver a speech from the White House balcony to a party gathered on the South Lawn on Saturday, which, according to his doctors, will be 10 days after his diagnosis.

Reportedly, hundreds of people have been invited.

All participants are required to wear masks, temperature controls are provided and social distance is encouraged, said the White House.

According to the White House, Mr Trump's words will be on the issue of "law and order," which adds that it is a presidential event rather than a campaign event.

There will also be an event by the group Blexit, a campaign urging black voters to reject the Democratic party.

On Monday the Trump campaign is planning a big rally in Sanford, Florida.

What about the debates

The second presidential debate between Mr. Trump and his opponent in the Democratic White House, Joe Biden, next week has now been officially cancelled.

"In a statement on Friday, the Commission on Presidential Debates reported that both campaigns had announced" alternate plans for that date.

Mr Trump had baulked at a request from the commission that the 15 October showdown be held virtually to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus.

The commission said it was still making arrangements for the third and final presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, on 22 October. 

Who has tested positive in Mr Trump's circle?

The announcement of Mr. Trump's first mass gathering since his infection has caused alarms in Washington, where officials are still trying to contact the White House event's monitoring attendees who have infected several Republican senators, Mr. Trump and his wife, and several other high-level White House aides.

According to his doctors, Mr. Trump tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday, but he has not said when his last negative test was.

According to the US media, as many as 34 White House aides and other associates have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days.

On Friday, nine infections were related to Mr. Trump 's September 18 campaign rally in the state, the Minnesota Department of Health said.

When they attended, at least one person was infectious, officials claim, and two cases have led to hospital admissions with one of those individuals in intensive care.