As he arrived back at the White House on Monday evening, the president defiantly removed his face mask and stopped to pose on a balcony within feet of a White House photographer. Nonetheless, the mood within the White House remains somber, with staff fearful they may have been exposed to the virus. Residence staff in direct contact with the first family are tested daily and support staff are tested every 48 hours. It’s not the first time a White House has had to contend with a virus. During the flu pandemic of 1918, President Woodrow Wilson was infected as were members of his family and White House staff, including his secretary and several Secret Service members, according to the White House Historical Association.

Source: ABC News October 06, 2020 05:37 UTC