On Thursday the White House Correspondents' Association issued a statement that all members of the press attending the evening Coronavirus Task Force Briefing would be issued a rapid response test for the disease currently gripping the nation.
"As many of you know, WHCA confirmed yesterday that a member who had been at the White House is now experiencing symptoms," the emailed statement read. "Out of an abundance of caution, the White House Medical Unit is going to conduct a COVID-19 test on all members of the press who plan to participate in today's task force briefing, including correspondents, photographers, and technicians."
INBOX: The White House will issue rapid result Covid-19 tests to every reporter attending today’s task force briefing at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/FnJCOAfAb9
— Gabby Orr (@GabbyOrr_) April 9, 2020
Members of the press were instructed to gather in the Brady Briefing Room to be tested by the Medical Unit by 3:30, which would ostensibly give technicians enough time to clear everyone for the briefing scheduled for 5:00 pm.
"Testing took 30 seconds, a long q-tip up both nostrils, and then done," said Philip Wegmann of RealClearPolitics. "It tickles and makes your eyes water and makes you want to sneeze."
We only get results if it’s bad news.
— Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) April 9, 2020
It was not immediately clear which member of the Wednesday press rotation at the White House had shown coronavirus symptoms necessitating the new testing protocol for Thursday's briefing.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.
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