Australia’s home affairs minister confirmed Friday that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, less than a week after meeting with Attorney General William Barr, senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump and other White House officials.
In a statement, Minister Peter Dutton said that he woke up on Friday morning “with a temperature and sore throat” and was “subsequently tested for COVID-19.” Dutton was advised by Queensland Health that his tests returned positive on Friday afternoon.
Dutton had met with Trump, Barr, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and Director of the Domestic Policy Council Joe Grogan in the US less than a week ago.
The White House said in a statement Friday that President Donald Trump’s older daughter is not showing symptoms from the coronavirus and is working from home “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Exposures from the case were assessed and the White House Medical Unit confirmed, in accordance with CDC guidance, that Ivanka is exhibiting no symptoms and does not need to self-quarantine. She worked from home today out of an abundance of caution until guidance was given,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.
Barr is “feeling great and not showing any symptoms” of the coronavirus, Department of Justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement Friday.
“He is staying home today and has consulted with CDC. CDC is not recommending he be tested at this point,” Kupec said.
Dutton said Friday that under the policy of Queensland Health, “anyone who tests positive is to be admitted into hospital and I have complied with their advice.” Dutton added that “I feel fine and will provide an update in due course.”
The coronavirus has impacted the work of dozens of government officials around the world — including heads of state — some of whom have tested positive and others who are working in self-isolation out of precaution after coming into contact with another infected person.
A Brazilian official tested positive for virus on Thursday, just days after meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday that the President “had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive” and does not require being tested.
CNN reported that Trump has been telling people close to him that he’s concerned about coming into contact with people who have contracted the coronavirus, including the Brazilian official.
Several US lawmakers, some of whom had recent contact with the President, have also taken steps to self-quarantine.
CNN’s Isaac Yee in Hong Kong and Evan Perez in Washington contributed to this report.