Votes are still being counted in several crucial battleground states in the U.S. election, making it unclear whether it will be Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden leading the world’s most powerful nation until 2024.

US Election 2020: Donald Trump leads in Pennsylvania by a narrow margin

Trump's campaign and the Georgia Republican Party have filed a lawsuit against the Chatham County Board of Elections

US Election 2020: Trump files lawsuits to stop vote count in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday denied a Republican-led petition to toss nearly 127,000 ballots cast at drive-thru voting places in the Houston area.

US Election 2020: Republicans take poll fight to courts

This year, however, due to the increase in mail-in voting triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the results in many states are expected to be delayed since counting postal votes can take more time.

US Election 2020: How the votes are counted | What are precincts? Explainer

US Election 2020: How mail-in votes could delay US Presidential election results

President Donald Trump cast doubt on the integrity of the U.S. election again on Sunday (November 1), saying a vote count that stretched past Election Day would be a "terrible thing" and suggesting his lawyers might get involved.

Donald Trump casts doubt on integrity of prolonged vote count

Whether Donald Trump returns to power or Joe Biden displaces him will determine the future of ideological norms and nature of political systems in the rest of the world

US Election 2020: Poll amid pandemic, racial tensions and political divisions

Fauci told that the Biden campaign “is taking it seriously from a public health perspective,” while Trump is “looking at it from a different perspective”

Anthony Fauci praises Biden on COVID-19 and criticises Trump

US Election 2020: 2 days to go for the D-day

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested early on Monday that he might seek to fire a highly respected member of his coronavirus task force, Anthony Fauci, after Fauci further criticized Trump's handling of the virus.

White House: Fauci broke norms by making political leanings public

White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas apologized on Sunday for giving an interview to Russia`s Kremlin-backed television station RT, saying he was unaware the outlet was a registered foreign agent in the United States.

Atlas, a neuroradiologist and member of the White House coronavirus task force, appeared on the channel on Saturday and criticized coronavirus lockdowns measures, calling them an "epic failure" at stopping the virus` spread.

"I recently did an interview with RT and was unaware they are a registered foreign agent," Atlas wrote on Twitter. "I regret doing the interview and apologize for allowing myself to be taken advantage of.

"I especially apologise to the national security community who is working hard to defend us," Atlas said.

RT registered as a foreign agent three years ago. A January 2017 report from U.S. intelligence agencies said the television station, which broadcasts on cable in the United States, is "Russia`s state-run propaganda machine" and that it contributed to the Kremlin`s campaign to interfere with the 2016 presidential election in favor of the winning candidate, Republican President Donald Trump.

After that report, the U.S. Department of Justice insisted that RT America comply with requirements under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA).

"The lockdowns ... will go down as an epic failure of public policy by people who refused to accept they were wrong," Atlas told RT in the Saturday interview.

Public health experts in the United States have previously raised concerns that Atlas, who has no background in infectious diseases, is providing misleading or incorrect information on the pandemic to Trump.

Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Saturday that Atlas is the only pandemic adviser who Trump regularly sees.

"I have real problems with that guy," Fauci told the Washington Post. "He`s a smart guy who`s talking about things that I believe he doesn`t have any real insight or knowledge or experience in."

White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas apologized on Sunday for giving an interview to Russia`s Kremlin-backed television station RT, saying he was unaware the outlet was a registered foreign agent in the United States.

White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas apologized on Sunday for giving an interview to Russia`s Kremlin-backed television station RT, saying he was unaware the outlet was a registered foreign agent in the United States. Atlas, a neuroradiologist and member of the White House coronavirus task force, appeared on the channel on Saturday and criticized coronavirus lockdowns measures, calling them an "epic failure" at stopping the virus` spread. "I recently did an interview with RT and was unaware they are a registered foreign agent," Atlas wrote on Twitter. "I regret doing the interview and apologize for allowing myself to be taken advantage of. "I especially apologise to the national security community who is working hard to defend us," Atlas said. RT registered as a foreign agent three years ago. A January 2017 report from U.S. intelligence agencies said the television station, which broadcasts on cable in the United States, is "Russia`s state-run propaganda machine" and that it contributed to the Kremlin`s campaign to interfere with the 2016 presidential election in favor of the winning candidate, Republican President Donald Trump. After that report, the U.S. Department of Justice insisted that RT America comply with requirements under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). "The lockdowns ... will go down as an epic failure of public policy by people who refused to accept they were wrong," Atlas told RT in the Saturday interview. Public health experts in the United States have previously raised concerns that Atlas, who has no background in infectious diseases, is providing misleading or incorrect information on the pandemic to Trump. Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Saturday that Atlas is the only pandemic adviser who Trump regularly sees. "I have real problems with that guy," Fauci told the Washington Post. "He`s a smart guy who`s talking about things that I believe he doesn`t have any real insight or knowledge or experience in."

White House coronavirus advisor Atlas apologises for Russian TV interview

Anthony Fauci, one of America's top government scientists, has issued an urgent plea for a change in US policy on the coronavirus. This -- quite understandably -- drew the wrath of the Trump administration in the final days of a hard-fought election campaign.

The virus has claimed more than 230,000 lives in the US, which last week suffered record high numbers of cases -- hitting 98,000 on Friday.

Fauci, in an interview in the Washington Post on Sunday, warned that the United States is headed for "a whole lot of hurt" unless it makes an "abrupt change" in health practices.

America, under the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has been ignoring safe practices and many hospitals already under severe strain as cold weather and the flu season arrive, "You could not possibly be positioned more poorly," Fauci said.

To this end, Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, offered a scathing response.

"It's unacceptable and breaking with all norms for Dr. Fauci, a senior member of thePresident's Coronavirus Taskforce and someone who has praised President Trump’s actions throughout this pandemic, to choose three days before an election to play politics," he said in a statement.

Trump, keeping up a frenetic pace of campaigning against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, has insisted the country is "rounding the turn" on the virus, and has even alleged -- without any evidence -- that many doctors are inflating virus death tolls for profit.

"I mean, our doctors are very smart people," Trump said at a rally Friday in Michigan. "So what they do is they say, 'I'm sorry but everybody dies of Covid.'"

Fauci, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force, once briefed Trump on the virus almost daily but said the president no longer seeks his advice.&nbsp;

In mid-October, during a telephone conference call, Trump called Fauci a "disaster."

Anthony Fauci, one of America's top government scientists, has issued an urgent plea for a change in US policy on the coronavirus. This -- quite understandably -- drew the wrath of the Trump administration in the final days of a hard-fought election campaign.

Anthony Fauci, one of America's top government scientists, has issued an urgent plea for a change in US policy on the coronavirus. This -- quite understandably -- drew the wrath of the Trump administration in the final days of a hard-fought election campaign. The virus has claimed more than 230,000 lives in the US, which last week suffered record high numbers of cases -- hitting 98,000 on Friday. Fauci, in an interview in the Washington Post on Sunday, warned that the United States is headed for "a whole lot of hurt" unless it makes an "abrupt change" in health practices. America, under the incumbent president, Donald Trump, has been ignoring safe practices and many hospitals already under severe strain as cold weather and the flu season arrive, "You could not possibly be positioned more poorly," Fauci said. To this end, Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, offered a scathing response. "It's unacceptable and breaking with all norms for Dr. Fauci, a senior member of thePresident's Coronavirus Taskforce and someone who has praised President Trump’s actions throughout this pandemic, to choose three days before an election to play politics," he said in a statement. Trump, keeping up a frenetic pace of campaigning against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, has insisted the country is "rounding the turn" on the virus, and has even alleged -- without any evidence -- that many doctors are inflating virus death tolls for profit. "I mean, our doctors are very smart people," Trump said at a rally Friday in Michigan. "So what they do is they say, 'I'm sorry but everybody dies of Covid.'" Fauci, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force, once briefed Trump on the virus almost daily but said the president no longer seeks his advice. In mid-October, during a telephone conference call, Trump called Fauci a "disaster."

Fauci and the White House clash ahead of election

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.

The US has shown a sudden spike in cases, brining the coronavirus tally to 9 million. While on Thursday, the US recorded 91,000 cases, the country registered over 94,000 cases on Friday.

“We haven’t made a determination. We have certain rules and regulations. You know, Washington, DC, is shut down. The mayor shut it down,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's office earlier this week sent a notice to operators of the Trump International Hotel, located in the historic Old Post Office building, reminding them of the city's coronavirus rules.

The city's current guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people and dictate that restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues operate at 50 per cent of capacity or less.&nbsp;

The Trump campaign has pushed out fundraising emails in the president's name offering donors the chance to enter a drawing to join Team Trump at the Election Night Party in my favourite hotel," in Washington. The campaign has also spotlighted plans for the party in fundraising blasts from the president's son Donald Trump Jr.

Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York. But he booked his victory party at New York's Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because his own nearby Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower didn't have a big enough room.

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.

United States President Donald Trump Friday has said he would want to relocate his campaign’s election night party to the White House "or another venue" if the coronavirus restrictions in Washington, prevent him from holding the event at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel. The US has shown a sudden spike in cases, brining the coronavirus tally to 9 million. While on Thursday, the US recorded 91,000 cases, the country registered over 94,000 cases on Friday. “We haven’t made a determination. We have certain rules and regulations. You know, Washington, DC, is shut down. The mayor shut it down,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's office earlier this week sent a notice to operators of the Trump International Hotel, located in the historic Old Post Office building, reminding them of the city's coronavirus rules. The city's current guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people and dictate that restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues operate at 50 per cent of capacity or less. The Trump campaign has pushed out fundraising emails in the president's name offering donors the chance to enter a drawing to join Team Trump at the Election Night Party in my favourite hotel," in Washington. The campaign has also spotlighted plans for the party in fundraising blasts from the president's son Donald Trump Jr. Trump held his 2016 election party in his then-hometown of New York. But he booked his victory party at New York's Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because his own nearby Trump International Hotel & Tower didn't have a big enough room.

Trump 'moves' his election night party to the White House

The White House is celebrating Halloween, Donald Trump is signing pumpkins, New Yorkers are clashing over ideologies & Borat Sagdiyev has turned political. WION's Palki Sharma gets you the latest updates from US Election 2020.

Gravitas: Why is Borat trending in America?

The White House Tuesday said a potential deal on COVID-19 relief could come in "weeks," casting doubt on whether an accord could be struck with Congress before the November 3 election even as US cases of the disease have swelled.

"We're confident that we can get something in the coming weeks," White House spokeswoman Alyssah Farah told Fox News in an interview, pointing to continuing disagreement over additional aid for state and local governments, and over direct financial aid to individuals.

The United States is facing a resurgence of cases of the novel coronavirus as 36 out of 50 US states have seen an increase for at least two weeks in a row. Deaths from the respiratory disease have also more than doubled in seven states.

On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's spokesman said she was hopeful an agreement could be reached before the elections even though major issues still needed to be addressed after she held talks with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin earlier in the day.

Both sides have been at odds over the need for further federal stimulus funding to grapple with the ongoing pandemic since the Democratic-led US House of Representatives passed its latest plan in May.

President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, who lead the US Senate, have balked at another round of stimulus funding even as Trump has called for spending beyond what Democrats have proposed. Both Trump and Pelosi have been trading blame for the lack of any final deal.

The White House Tuesday said a potential deal on COVID-19 relief could come in "weeks," casting doubt on whether an accord could be struck with Congress before the November 3 election even as US cases of the disease have swelled.

The White House Tuesday said a potential deal on COVID-19 relief could come in "weeks," casting doubt on whether an accord could be struck with Congress before the November 3 election even as US cases of the disease have swelled. "We're confident that we can get something in the coming weeks," White House spokeswoman Alyssah Farah told Fox News in an interview, pointing to continuing disagreement over additional aid for state and local governments, and over direct financial aid to individuals. The United States is facing a resurgence of cases of the novel coronavirus as 36 out of 50 US states have seen an increase for at least two weeks in a row. Deaths from the respiratory disease have also more than doubled in seven states. On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's spokesman said she was hopeful an agreement could be reached before the elections even though major issues still needed to be addressed after she held talks with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin earlier in the day. Both sides have been at odds over the need for further federal stimulus funding to grapple with the ongoing pandemic since the Democratic-led US House of Representatives passed its latest plan in May. President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, who lead the US Senate, have balked at another round of stimulus funding even as Trump has called for spending beyond what Democrats have proposed. Both Trump and Pelosi have been trading blame for the lack of any final deal.

White House says COVID-19 aid deal seen 'in coming weeks'

President Donald Trump’s pick for the US Apex Court Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as Supreme Court Justice in a ceremony at the White House late on Monday.

"I know you will make us all very, very proud," US President Donald Trump said at the swearing-in ceremony.

Earlier on Monday, the US Senate confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to be a Supreme Court justice by a 52-48 vote, strictly along partisan lines, filling the vacancy left by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-judiciary-committee-approves-amy-coney-barrett-nomination-for-supreme-court-337328/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Justice Clarence Thomas administered the first of two required oaths to Barrett on the South Lawn of the White House a short time later with Trump looking on.

"It’s a privilege to be asked to serve my country in this office and I stand here tonight truly honoured and humbled. Thanks also to the Senate for giving its consent to my appointment. I am grateful for the confidence you had expressed in me," Barrett said after taking the oath late on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)

President Donald Trump’s pick for the US Apex Court Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as Supreme Court Justice in a ceremony at the White House late on Monday. "I know you will make us all very, very proud," US President Donald Trump said at the swearing-in ceremony.

President Donald Trump’s pick for the US Apex Court Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as Supreme Court Justice in a ceremony at the White House late on Monday. "I know you will make us all very, very proud," US President Donald Trump said at the swearing-in ceremony. Earlier on Monday, the US Senate confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to be a Supreme Court justice by a 52-48 vote, strictly along partisan lines, filling the vacancy left by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Clarence Thomas administered the first of two required oaths to Barrett on the South Lawn of the White House a short time later with Trump looking on. "It’s a privilege to be asked to serve my country in this office and I stand here tonight truly honoured and humbled. Thanks also to the Senate for giving its consent to my appointment. I am grateful for the confidence you had expressed in me," Barrett said after taking the oath late on Monday. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump's pick Amy Coney Barrett sworn in as Supreme Court Justice at White House

With a bit of rejiggering, President Trump & Melania Trump played host to super heroes, unicorns, princesses & even a miniature version of themselves. The south portico at White House was decorated with shades of autumn & Pumpkins. WION brings you the highlights from The HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

White House hosts Halloween | U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct

Two children dressed up as US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania at a Halloween event at the White House on Sunday.

They thoroughly enjoyed their mini lookalikes -- as far as the smiles on the faces of the president and first lady go, and posed for a photo with the pair.

The boy's costume included a blonde wig, a black suit, and a red tie, while the little girl wore a white gown.

This year's event took place with extra precautions due to the coronavirus, according to the White House, including a limited guest capacity, required mask-wearing, and social distancing.

A few hours prior to his Halloween bash, Trump was signing pumpkins at an orchard in the state of Maine.

"It'll be on ebay tonight," Trump joked as he autographed them.

Meanwhile, in New York city, a different kind of Halloween was seen altogether -- one that has gripped the whole of United States this entire summer.

There were protests and violence on the streets of New York -- a skirmish broke out between supporters and opponents of Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon.

It began as a virbal dispute, and soon turned physical. There were punches thrown -- eggs were hurled and expletives were yelled.

All of this happened in the heart of Times Square.

Clashes also happened a few miles away in Brooklyn.

But despite all this, many people voted -- hoping to ensure that the US is united once again.

Two children dressed up as US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania at a Halloween event at the White House on Sunday. They thoroughly enjoyed their mini lookalikes -- as far as the smiles on the faces of the president and first lady go, and posed for a photo with the pair.

Two children dressed up as US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania at a Halloween event at the White House on Sunday. They thoroughly enjoyed their mini lookalikes -- as far as the smiles on the faces of the president and first lady go, and posed for a photo with the pair. The boy's costume included a blonde wig, a black suit, and a red tie, while the little girl wore a white gown. This year's event took place with extra precautions due to the coronavirus, according to the White House, including a limited guest capacity, required mask-wearing, and social distancing. A few hours prior to his Halloween bash, Trump was signing pumpkins at an orchard in the state of Maine. "It'll be on ebay tonight," Trump joked as he autographed them. Meanwhile, in New York city, a different kind of Halloween was seen altogether -- one that has gripped the whole of United States this entire summer. There were protests and violence on the streets of New York -- a skirmish broke out between supporters and opponents of Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon. It began as a virbal dispute, and soon turned physical. There were punches thrown -- eggs were hurled and expletives were yelled. All of this happened in the heart of Times Square. Clashes also happened a few miles away in Brooklyn. But despite all this, many people voted -- hoping to ensure that the US is united once again.

Children dress as Trump, his wife at White House Halloween event

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were in the spotlight outside the White House on Sunday night (October 25) to host families for a Halloween event -- when suddenly their miniature lookalikes came along and stole the show.

Mini Trump and Melania steal the show at White House Halloween

Less than 2 weeks to go for US Election 2020, the battle for the White House is only gaining in ferocity. Just a day before the final Presidential Debate, WION reports the opinion polls in key swing states.

Who leads in key states before debate?

One thing that has become crucial in the 2020 Election campaign is The State of Race relations in America. Susan Tehrani brings you a ground report on the deep racial division in America before Election Day.

A reckoning with racism & discrimination

WASHINGTON — In late September, a Nobel Prize-winning economist emailed Dr. Scott W. Atlas, a White House coronavirus adviser, in what he saw as a last-ditch effort to persuade the Trump administration to embrace a sharp increase in testing and isolating infected patients. The plan, meant to appeal to a president who has complained that positive tests make his administration look bad, would not “generate any new confirmed cases.”

Atlas, a radiologist, told the economist, Paul Romer of New York University, that there was no need to do the sort of testing he was proposing.

“That’s not appropriate health care policy,” Atlas wrote.

Atlas went on to mention a theory that the virus can be arrested once a small percentage of the U.S. population contracts it. He said there was a “likelihood that only 25 or 20% of people need the infection,” an apparent reference to a threshold for so-called herd immunity that epidemiologists have widely disputed.

The call for more widespread testing and isolation, Atlas wrote, “is grossly misguided.”

The exchange highlights the resistance in the White House toward adopting a significantly expanded federal testing program, including efforts to support infected patients in isolation and track the people they have been in contact with, even as cases and deaths continue to rise nationwide. That resistance has become a sticking point in negotiations over a new economic stimulus package, with the administration and top Democrats yet to agree on the scope and setup of an expanded testing plan.

Many public health experts, and some economists like Romer, say that a far more sweeping program would save lives and bolster the economy by helping as many Americans as possible learn quickly if they are infected — and then take steps to avoid spreading the virus.

Atlas and other administration officials playing influential roles in the government’s virus response effectively say the opposite: that more widespread testing would infringe on Americans’ privacy and hurt the economy, by keeping potentially infected workers who show no symptoms from reporting to their jobs.

Congressional Democrats have grown so frustrated with the administration’s testing efforts that as part of any agreement on a new aid package, they insisted on language that would force the government to carry out a far more prescriptive national program for administering and distributing tests.

While White House negotiators resisted those demands for months, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he will accept such wording with minor edits. Top Democratic staff, including the top health adviser to Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, walked Mnuchin through the party’s proposal Friday, according to a person familiar with the discussion, but they had yet to announce agreement on language by early evening.

In an interview Thursday, Atlas, who is not involved in the stimulus talks, said that the United States had a “massive” testing program overall but that it should be used strategically to protect vulnerable populations, like nursing home residents — not young, healthy individuals who he said were at low risk of contracting the disease. He said that large-scale government test and isolate programs infringed on civil liberties and that new research had persuaded him that herd immunity might be achieved once 20% or 40% of Americans are infected.

“The overwhelming majority of people who get this infection are not at high risk,” Atlas said in the interview. “And when you start seeking out and testing asymptomatic people, you are destroying the workforce.”

Many congressional Republicans, who prefer to leave testing decisions to states, share Atlas’ concerns about federal testing programs, a complication if Mnuchin and Pelosi do agree on a nearly $2 trillion economic stimulus deal.

Mnuchin said Thursday that the pair had settled on spending an additional $75 billion for testing and tracing. But the sides have not yet reached agreement on the language that Democrats have demanded for a national testing strategy, including timelines and benchmarks for allocating testing supplies and testing communities heavily affected by the virus. Democrats have been wary that the administration would actually spend the money as intended without specific legislative parameters.

Pelosi said she had not received proposed changes from Mnuchin as of early Friday evening, saying in an interview on MSNBC, “We’re making progress — we have to have clarification in language.” The pair are scheduled to speak Saturday evening.

“The devil and the angels are in the detail,” she said, adding that she was opposed to “giving the president a slush fund” instead of “a prescription for what we need, what scientists tell us to need to stop the spread of this virus.”

Experts from a wide range of fields have repeatedly denounced the lack of testing in the United States. Despite Trump’s repeated affirmations that the country has done more testing than any other nation, researchers have noted that 991,000 or so tests done each day were still not enough to keep in check a virus that has infected more than 8 million people nationwide. Tests can individually diagnose people who might unknowingly carrying the virus. At the population level, they can also help health officials monitor any spread and pinpoint and quash outbreaks before they spin out of control.

Others have cautioned against an overreliance on testing as a preventive measure, noting that, in the absence of standards like physical distancing and mask wearing, testing alone cannot fully contain a virus that spreads wherever people tend to gather, regardless of whether those infected are exhibiting symptoms.

“No testing scheme, no test is perfect. There will always be people who go undetected,” said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University who has researched and written about herd immunity. “The best way to protect the most vulnerable is to reduce the amount of virus that’s in the population that can get through all of those testing schemes and cause destruction.”

Atlas’ position has been challenged by medical advisers around him who have backgrounds in infectious disease response, revealing a significant rift in the White House over the right approach. Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, has pushed for aggressive, broad testing even among young and healthy people, often clashing with Atlas in meetings.

“I would always be happy if we had 100% of students tested weekly,” Birx said Wednesday in an appearance at Penn State University, “because I think testing changes behavior.”

Atlas at one point influenced the administration’s efforts to install new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that said it was not necessary to test people without symptoms of COVID-19 even if they had been exposed to the virus, upsetting Birx and Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the CDC director.

The administration’s efforts to fund federal and state testing have long been fraught. In July, as administration officials and top Senate Republicans clashed over the contours of their initial $1 trillion proposal, the White House initially balked at providing billions of dollars to fund coronavirus testing and help federal health agencies.

Since the early days of the pandemic, Romer has argued for a wide-scale testing program, costing as much as $100 billion. He had hoped to persuade Atlas that if officials could quickly identify and isolate people carrying the virus, they would slow its spread and allow normal economic activity to resume more quickly.

In his email, sent to Atlas’ personal account, Romer proposed additional testing and isolation efforts that could allow far more Americans to return to work and shopping, generating economic activity that would be 10 or 100 times larger than the cost of the testing program itself.

In an interview, he said he also “went out on a limb” to propose a version of an expanded testing plan that might appeal to Trump, who said this year that he had instructed federal officials to slow the rate of testing because “by having more tests, we have more cases.”

Romer wrote that an increase in positive test results could be “interpreted as a sign of a policy failure." He said the administration could instead consider a plan to send Americans tests they could administer themselves at home, then allow people to voluntarily self-isolate if they tested positive, which would not officially generate new “confirmed” cases.

Atlas replied that the push for such testing was the result of “a fundamental error of the public health people perpetrated on the world.”

Romer said he was taken aback by the answer: “Atlas just responded in a way that just honestly made it seem like he was in over his head,” he said.

WASHINGTON — In late September, a Nobel Prize-winning economist emailed Dr. Scott W. Atlas, a White House coronavirus adviser, in what he saw as a last-ditch effort to persuade the Trump administration to embrace a sharp increase in testing and isolating infected patients.

WASHINGTON — In late September, a Nobel Prize-winning economist emailed Dr. Scott W. Atlas, a White House coronavirus adviser, in what he saw as a last-ditch effort to persuade the Trump administration to embrace a sharp increase in testing and isolating infected patients. The plan, meant to appeal to a president who has complained that positive tests make his administration look bad, would not “generate any new confirmed cases.” Atlas, a radiologist, told the economist, Paul Romer of New York University, that there was no need to do the sort of testing he was proposing. “That’s not appropriate health care policy,” Atlas wrote. Atlas went on to mention a theory that the virus can be arrested once a small percentage of the U.S. population contracts it. He said there was a “likelihood that only 25 or 20% of people need the infection,” an apparent reference to a threshold for so-called herd immunity that epidemiologists have widely disputed. The call for more widespread testing and isolation, Atlas wrote, “is grossly misguided.” The exchange highlights the resistance in the White House toward adopting a significantly expanded federal testing program, including efforts to support infected patients in isolation and track the people they have been in contact with, even as cases and deaths continue to rise nationwide. That resistance has become a sticking point in negotiations over a new economic stimulus package, with the administration and top Democrats yet to agree on the scope and setup of an expanded testing plan. Many public health experts, and some economists like Romer, say that a far more sweeping program would save lives and bolster the economy by helping as many Americans as possible learn quickly if they are infected — and then take steps to avoid spreading the virus. Atlas and other administration officials playing influential roles in the government’s virus response effectively say the opposite: that more widespread testing would infringe on Americans’ privacy and hurt the economy, by keeping potentially infected workers who show no symptoms from reporting to their jobs. Congressional Democrats have grown so frustrated with the administration’s testing efforts that as part of any agreement on a new aid package, they insisted on language that would force the government to carry out a far more prescriptive national program for administering and distributing tests. While White House negotiators resisted those demands for months, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he will accept such wording with minor edits. Top Democratic staff, including the top health adviser to Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, walked Mnuchin through the party’s proposal Friday, according to a person familiar with the discussion, but they had yet to announce agreement on language by early evening. In an interview Thursday, Atlas, who is not involved in the stimulus talks, said that the United States had a “massive” testing program overall but that it should be used strategically to protect vulnerable populations, like nursing home residents — not young, healthy individuals who he said were at low risk of contracting the disease. He said that large-scale government test and isolate programs infringed on civil liberties and that new research had persuaded him that herd immunity might be achieved once 20% or 40% of Americans are infected. “The overwhelming majority of people who get this infection are not at high risk,” Atlas said in the interview. “And when you start seeking out and testing asymptomatic people, you are destroying the workforce.” Many congressional Republicans, who prefer to leave testing decisions to states, share Atlas’ concerns about federal testing programs, a complication if Mnuchin and Pelosi do agree on a nearly $2 trillion economic stimulus deal. Mnuchin said Thursday that the pair had settled on spending an additional $75 billion for testing and tracing. But the sides have not yet reached agreement on the language that Democrats have demanded for a national testing strategy, including timelines and benchmarks for allocating testing supplies and testing communities heavily affected by the virus. Democrats have been wary that the administration would actually spend the money as intended without specific legislative parameters. Pelosi said she had not received proposed changes from Mnuchin as of early Friday evening, saying in an interview on MSNBC, “We’re making progress — we have to have clarification in language.” The pair are scheduled to speak Saturday evening. “The devil and the angels are in the detail,” she said, adding that she was opposed to “giving the president a slush fund” instead of “a prescription for what we need, what scientists tell us to need to stop the spread of this virus.” Experts from a wide range of fields have repeatedly denounced the lack of testing in the United States. Despite Trump’s repeated affirmations that the country has done more testing than any other nation, researchers have noted that 991,000 or so tests done each day were still not enough to keep in check a virus that has infected more than 8 million people nationwide. Tests can individually diagnose people who might unknowingly carrying the virus. At the population level, they can also help health officials monitor any spread and pinpoint and quash outbreaks before they spin out of control. Others have cautioned against an overreliance on testing as a preventive measure, noting that, in the absence of standards like physical distancing and mask wearing, testing alone cannot fully contain a virus that spreads wherever people tend to gather, regardless of whether those infected are exhibiting symptoms. “No testing scheme, no test is perfect. There will always be people who go undetected,” said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University who has researched and written about herd immunity. “The best way to protect the most vulnerable is to reduce the amount of virus that’s in the population that can get through all of those testing schemes and cause destruction.” Atlas’ position has been challenged by medical advisers around him who have backgrounds in infectious disease response, revealing a significant rift in the White House over the right approach. Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, has pushed for aggressive, broad testing even among young and healthy people, often clashing with Atlas in meetings. “I would always be happy if we had 100% of students tested weekly,” Birx said Wednesday in an appearance at Penn State University, “because I think testing changes behavior.” Atlas at one point influenced the administration’s efforts to install new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that said it was not necessary to test people without symptoms of COVID-19 even if they had been exposed to the virus, upsetting Birx and Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the CDC director. The administration’s efforts to fund federal and state testing have long been fraught. In July, as administration officials and top Senate Republicans clashed over the contours of their initial $1 trillion proposal, the White House initially balked at providing billions of dollars to fund coronavirus testing and help federal health agencies. Since the early days of the pandemic, Romer has argued for a wide-scale testing program, costing as much as $100 billion. He had hoped to persuade Atlas that if officials could quickly identify and isolate people carrying the virus, they would slow its spread and allow normal economic activity to resume more quickly. In his email, sent to Atlas’ personal account, Romer proposed additional testing and isolation efforts that could allow far more Americans to return to work and shopping, generating economic activity that would be 10 or 100 times larger than the cost of the testing program itself. In an interview, he said he also “went out on a limb” to propose a version of an expanded testing plan that might appeal to Trump, who said this year that he had instructed federal officials to slow the rate of testing because “by having more tests, we have more cases.” Romer wrote that an increase in positive test results could be “interpreted as a sign of a policy failure." He said the administration could instead consider a plan to send Americans tests they could administer themselves at home, then allow people to voluntarily self-isolate if they tested positive, which would not officially generate new “confirmed” cases. Atlas replied that the push for such testing was the result of “a fundamental error of the public health people perpetrated on the world.” Romer said he was taken aback by the answer: “Atlas just responded in a way that just honestly made it seem like he was in over his head,” he said.

White House opposes expanded virus testing, complicating stimulus talks

&nbsp;

<meta charset="utf-8" />

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">elections</a> for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states.

In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years.

While the process of nominee selection for one of the most important positions of this world is quite similar to the rest of the developing and developed countries, what is different than the rest is the US’ voting process.

The electoral process involves the selection of candidates, registration of voters and casting the vote.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-how-are-votes-counted-in-the-presidential-election-335422">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election?</a>

Unlike other countries, some states in the US have the power to establish their own rules for voting. However, the reason the majority of the states follow the same rules is due to the various restrictions imposed by the federal agencies.

American voters, earlier, were supposed to be of the age of 21 and older. However, later the 26th Amendment to the Constitution changed the legal voting age to 18, and now therefore everyone who is 18-years-old and older is considered to be an adult and eligible to vote. Another very important condition for being an eligible voter is that the person should be a registered US citizen. Anybody who does not hold the US passport and is not a legally registered citizen is not allowed to cast vote, including any other visa holders such as study and work visa.

After being eligible to vote, a citizen has to register with the required authorities. In some states, people have to register through the mail — usually on forms available from the local registrar of voters — and in others, they can go meet the locally appointed officers to finish the process.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-republicans-clash-with-california-officials-over-ballot-boxes-335425">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: Republicans clash with California officials over ballot boxes</a>

The registration rules, too, vary from state to state, some allowing citizens to register till a week before the election, while others closing it a few weeks ago.

Every state has different dates for voting, which is very different from the majority of the countries. All states, cities, counties, districts are divided into something labelled as ‘voting districts’, which are basically local precinct where people can go and cast their votes.

On the decided date(s) of the voting, the registered people can go and cast their vote either at the voting booths or drop their mail-in votes at the fixed drop-in points or mail it at the provided address.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-indian-americans-overwhelmingly-support-joe-biden-new-poll-shows-335285">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: Indian-Americans overwhelmingly support Joe Biden, new poll shows</a>

When all states close voting, the counting of the votes begins, which includes the poll and the mail-in votes. The counting of the votes does not take a very long time. However, that was when majority of the voters were casting votes at the nearest voting booth. This year, however, due to the pandemic, a major increase is being anticipated in the mail-in votes, which can also down the vote-counting process, further leading to a delay in the announcement and swearing-in ceremony.&nbsp;

A delay in the result announcement is something that even the current US President Donald Trump — who is rerunning for the post — has also warned the authorities again. Trump has claimed that the United States Postal Service is not capable of conducting operations on such a high level. However, he has often faced harsh criticism and wrath from his opponents and voters for the lack of trust he has shown in the USPS — often considered to be a pride of the US.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-this-will-end-badly-for-us-elections-result-331339">Experts, and Trump, also believe that the increase in mail-in voting can also increase the manipulation of the voters and their casted votes.</a>

The elections, this year, are scheduled for November 03 and will see the US President Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate and the former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> fight for the White House.&nbsp;

This year, on December 14, the members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for president. As per the system, the winner of the each state’s popular vote will earn that state’s electoral votes, which are apportioned by population. The candidate who receives a majority of either 583 (or 270) will inch closer to the finish line.&nbsp;

Then on January 06, 2021, the Congress will meet past noon in Washington to count the electoral votes and declare a winner who will be sworn in for the position along with his running mate at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20.

The elections for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states. In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years.

The elections for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states. In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years. While the process of nominee selection for one of the most important positions of this world is quite similar to the rest of the developing and developed countries, what is different than the rest is the US’ voting process. The electoral process involves the selection of candidates, registration of voters and casting the vote. Also read| US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election? Unlike other countries, some states in the US have the power to establish their own rules for voting. However, the reason the majority of the states follow the same rules is due to the various restrictions imposed by the federal agencies. American voters, earlier, were supposed to be of the age of 21 and older. However, later the 26th Amendment to the Constitution changed the legal voting age to 18, and now therefore everyone who is 18-years-old and older is considered to be an adult and eligible to vote. Another very important condition for being an eligible voter is that the person should be a registered US citizen. Anybody who does not hold the US passport and is not a legally registered citizen is not allowed to cast vote, including any other visa holders such as study and work visa. After being eligible to vote, a citizen has to register with the required authorities. In some states, people have to register through the mail — usually on forms available from the local registrar of voters — and in others, they can go meet the locally appointed officers to finish the process. Also read| US election 2020: Republicans clash with California officials over ballot boxes The registration rules, too, vary from state to state, some allowing citizens to register till a week before the election, while others closing it a few weeks ago. Every state has different dates for voting, which is very different from the majority of the countries. All states, cities, counties, districts are divided into something labelled as ‘voting districts’, which are basically local precinct where people can go and cast their votes. On the decided date(s) of the voting, the registered people can go and cast their vote either at the voting booths or drop their mail-in votes at the fixed drop-in points or mail it at the provided address. Also read| US election 2020: Indian-Americans overwhelmingly support Joe Biden, new poll shows When all states close voting, the counting of the votes begins, which includes the poll and the mail-in votes. The counting of the votes does not take a very long time. However, that was when majority of the voters were casting votes at the nearest voting booth. This year, however, due to the pandemic, a major increase is being anticipated in the mail-in votes, which can also down the vote-counting process, further leading to a delay in the announcement and swearing-in ceremony. A delay in the result announcement is something that even the current US President Donald Trump — who is rerunning for the post — has also warned the authorities again. Trump has claimed that the United States Postal Service is not capable of conducting operations on such a high level. However, he has often faced harsh criticism and wrath from his opponents and voters for the lack of trust he has shown in the USPS — often considered to be a pride of the US. Experts, and Trump, also believe that the increase in mail-in voting can also increase the manipulation of the voters and their casted votes. The elections, this year, are scheduled for November 03 and will see the US President Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate and the former Vice President Joe Biden fight for the White House. This year, on December 14, the members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for president. As per the system, the winner of the each state’s popular vote will earn that state’s electoral votes, which are apportioned by population. The candidate who receives a majority of either 583 (or 270) will inch closer to the finish line. Then on January 06, 2021, the Congress will meet past noon in Washington to count the electoral votes and declare a winner who will be sworn in for the position along with his running mate at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20.

US election 2020: How the States vote for the Presidential elections

In this segment watch the four years of Donald Trump's presidency in the United States.

Highlights of the 4 years of Presidency under Donald Trump

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden pulled further ahead of President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania

US Election 2020: Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Biden lead over Trump growing in Wisconsin

October 12 in history: From renaming of White House to the sale of first raincoat

US President Donald Trump has claimed he no longer has coronavirus and is now “immune” to Covid-19 as he prepares to return to the campaign trail.

Donald Trump claims immunity from COVID-19 ahead of rallies

A day after the doctor of US President Donald Trump said that he was no longer a transmission risk for COVID-19, President Trump on Sunday (October 11) said that he was immune from the coronavirus and he has succeeded in beating this 'crazy horrible China virus'.

Trump Insists He'S Immune ' To The Virus Without Producing Any Evidence

President Donald Trump rallied hundreds of cheering supporters for a campaign-style comeback event at the White House on Saturday, jumping back into the race nine days after being stopped in his tracks by COVID-19.

Donald Trump no longer a transmission risk: White House

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of White House's coronavirus task force said on Saturday that the White House ceremony to unveil judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett was a 'super spreader' event for coronavirus infection.

US President Donald Trump officially nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court in a White House ceremony. The event was held in the Rose Garden of the White House. The event was attended by number of White House aides and allies of Donald Trump. Attendees were not seen wearing masks in a close gathering.

The event was held on September 26, and Trump himself got infected with coronavirus on October 2. Number of other aides of Trump were subsequently found to be positive for the infection.

Dr Anthony Fauci said that data (of mask-wearing) spoke for itself.

"We had a super-spreader event in the White House and it was in a situation where people were crowded together and were not wearing masks. So the data speak for themselves," Dr Fauci was quoted by CBS News as saying.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-is-medication-free-describes-coronavirus-battle-334171">Trump says he is 'medication-free,' describes coronavirus battle</a>

By Thursday, these White House aides of Donald Trump were on the list of those infected with coronavirus. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Counselor to the President Hope Hicks: Tested positive on October 1.</li>
	<li>Senior Adviser Stephen Miller: Tested positive on October 6.</li>
	<li>Director of Oval Office Operations Nick Luna: Tested positive on October 3.</li>
	<li>Assistant Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: Tested positive on October 6.</li>
	<li>Assistant Press Secretary Jalen Drummond: Tested positive on October 6.</li>
	<li>Assistant Press Secretary Chad Gilmartin: Tested positive over the weekend of October 3/4.</li>
	<li>White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: Tested positive on October 5.</li>
	<li>Assistant Press Secretary Harrison Fields: Tested positive, confirmed Thursday, October 8.</li>
</ul>

 
Donald Trump was on the receiving end as soon as he tweeted on October 2 that him and his wife Melania Trump were coronavirus positive. He has faced criticism for his handling of coronavirus pandemic in the US. He has been denounced for downplaying the outbreak in its early days.

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of White House's coronavirus task force said on Saturday that the White House ceremony to unveil judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett was a 'super spreader' event for coronavirus infection.

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of White House's coronavirus task force said on Saturday that the White House ceremony to unveil judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett was a 'super spreader' event for coronavirus infection. US President Donald Trump officially nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court in a White House ceremony. The event was held in the Rose Garden of the White House. The event was attended by number of White House aides and allies of Donald Trump. Attendees were not seen wearing masks in a close gathering. The event was held on September 26, and Trump himself got infected with coronavirus on October 2. Number of other aides of Trump were subsequently found to be positive for the infection. Dr Anthony Fauci said that data (of mask-wearing) spoke for itself. "We had a super-spreader event in the White House and it was in a situation where people were crowded together and were not wearing masks. So the data speak for themselves," Dr Fauci was quoted by CBS News as saying. Also Read | Trump says he is 'medication-free,' describes coronavirus battle By Thursday, these White House aides of Donald Trump were on the list of those infected with coronavirus. Counselor to the President Hope Hicks: Tested positive on October 1. Senior Adviser Stephen Miller: Tested positive on October 6. Director of Oval Office Operations Nick Luna: Tested positive on October 3. Assistant Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: Tested positive on October 6. Assistant Press Secretary Jalen Drummond: Tested positive on October 6. Assistant Press Secretary Chad Gilmartin: Tested positive over the weekend of October 3/4. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: Tested positive on October 5. Assistant Press Secretary Harrison Fields: Tested positive, confirmed Thursday, October 8. Donald Trump was on the receiving end as soon as he tweeted on October 2 that him and his wife Melania Trump were coronavirus positive. He has faced criticism for his handling of coronavirus pandemic in the US. He has been denounced for downplaying the outbreak in its early days.

White House ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett was a 'superspreader' event: Dr Fauci

The coronavirus outbreak at the White House has now grown to more than 20 people, and evidence is mounting that the administration did little to prevent or contain the virus’s spread. For months, President Donald Trump minimized the threat of the virus and ignored basic safety precautions like wearing a mask or maintaining 6 feet of distance from other people. And at several events last week, White House staff members defied recommendations — from scientists, local authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — on curbing infection, even after the president tested positive. Here is a look at some of the ways Trump and his staff members ignored basic guidelines.

—

The White House relied too heavily on rapid tests.

THE GUIDELINES

The Food and Drug Administration approved the rapid coronavirus tests used by the White House for use only “within the first seven days of the onset of symptoms.” These tests frequently miss infections in people without symptoms.

The CDC says it may be necessary for those who test negative on a rapid test to confirm the result using a lab-based test, especially if they have symptoms or have been in contact with an infected person.

WHAT HAPPENED

Since the early days of the pandemic, the White House has regularly used rapid tests to screen staff members and guests for the coronavirus because they are fast, portable and easy to operate. But those who tested negative would often skip other precautions, like wearing a mask or social distancing. Experts say rapid tests are less accurate for people who are not showing any signs of infection, and they should not be used as the only precaution.

Testing negative does not guarantee a lack of infection, since people who have been recently infected may not have enough virus in their bodies for tests to detect. Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the president, and Kayleigh McEnany, the press secretary, both tested positive early this week after testing negative in the preceding days.

And while officials had given the impression that Trump was getting tested every day, the White House has since conceded that tests were not as frequent and has refused to reveal the last time Trump tested negative.

—

Members of the administration held meetings indoors, did not wear masks, &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; and failed to maintain recommended social distance.

THE GUIDELINES

The CDC’s guidelines for preventing the spread of the coronavirus say to remain at least six feet away from people outside your household and to “cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.” The nation’s health protection agency also recommends hosting gatherings outdoors when possible.

WHAT HAPPENED

The Trump administration allowed those who received a negative result to go without a mask to meetings and events, including at a reception inside the White House for the Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

The president also huddled with advisers for maskless preparation sessions ahead of the first presidential debate, held on Sept. 29. Several of those involved — including Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey; Kellyanne Conway, a former White House adviser; Hope Hicks, a current adviser; and Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager — have said they have since tested positive.

The president and his staff members also spent several hours in the enclosed space of Air Force One last week traveling to events in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio and New Jersey. At least eight people aboard those flights, including Hicks, McEnany, Miller and Stepien, have since tested positive for the virus.

—

The White House and Trump campaign hosted large gatherings that flouted state and local restrictions.

THE GUIDELINES

CDC guidelines say large, in-person gatherings where it is difficult to maintain social distance of at least 6 feet apart pose the “highest risk” of spreading the coronavirus among all types of gatherings and events. This includes both indoor and outdoor events.

WHAT HAPPENED

The White House and Trump campaign held several large rallies, fundraisers and other events in the week before Trump tested positive.

The day after Trump hosted at least 200 people in the Rose Garden, the president hosted a White House reception honoring Gold Star families. At least 100 people attended the indoor event, including Adm. Charles Ray, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, who has since tested positive, prompting many of the country’s top military officials to go into quarantine.

A citywide order in Washington prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people, but because the White House is on federal property, it is exempt from local rules.

The Trump campaign also held three large outdoor rallies that week in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, three states whose guidelines limit gatherings to 250 people. Officials in Pennsylvania criticized the Trump campaign for flouting local regulations, and the Virginia event also drew scrutiny.

—

The White House is not tracing contacts of those at a potential ‘super-spreader’ event.

THE GUIDELINES

The CDC advises contact tracing for close contacts of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are considered probable cases. Contact tracers notify, interview and advise the close contacts of the infected person, and the CDC says close contacts should themselves be tested.

WHAT HAPPENED

Even though at least 12 attendees have since tested positive, the White House has decided not to trace the contacts of those who attended the Rose Garden event for Barrett. Instead, the White House said it would notify only those who came into contact with Trump in the two days before his positive test on Oct 1.

A White House spokesman did say contact tracing “was completed” for Trump’s Oct. 1 trip to Bedminster, New Jersey. One guest confirmed he received three emails alerting him to possible exposure — one from the Trump campaign and two from state and local government tracers — but said no one had called him.

—

The president and his aides did not quarantine after people near them showed symptoms and tested positive.

THE GUIDELINES

The CDC says those who have been in “close contact” with someone who tests positive should quarantine for 14 days, starting from two days before the infected person’s illness onset. The White House says it is following CDC guidelines for essential personnel who have come in contact with infected people.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Sept. 30, Trump flew aboard Air Force One with staff members and members of Congress to Minnesota for a fundraiser and rally. That night, Hicks felt ill and sat apart from others at the back of Air Force One on the way home.

Anyone who was in close contact with Hicks in the two days before she started feeling symptoms should have quarantined.

Yet despite knowing of Hicks’ illness, Trump and his aides traveled the next day to Bedminster, to a small indoor round table and then a larger outdoor fundraiser. That evening, Bloomberg News reported that Hicks had tested positive, and after midnight, Trump revealed he had also tested positive.

Even after Trump and Hicks tested positive, McEnany, who had been in close contact with both of them, continued to go to work. She hosted a news conference while maskless on the White House lawn the day after the president tested positive and went to work that weekend, later saying she acted as an essential worker. On Monday, she said she had tested positive.

Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, and Dan Scavino Jr., a deputy chief of staff, have continued to work from the West Wing despite repeated exposure to the president. Both were with Trump at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after he was hospitalized over the weekend and joined the president in the Oval Office on Wednesday, six days after the president’s positive test.

—

The president failed to isolate after testing positive.

THE GUIDELINES

Those who test positive for the coronavirus should isolate themselves from others for a minimum of 10 days after testing positive, according to the CDC, or for at least 10 days after symptoms first appear.

WHAT HAPPENED

Officials say Trump tested positive on Oct. 1. That means he should have isolated until at least Sunday, Oct. 11 — even if he had stopped experiencing symptoms.

Instead, Trump, escorted by Secret Service agents, left isolation Sunday for a drive-by to greet supporters, flew to the White House on Marine One on Monday, and reentered the White House without wearing a mask, defying guidance that is intended to protect others. Video footage of the president before he walked into the White House on Monday showed him in proximity to a photographer and several other people.

The coronavirus outbreak at the White House has now grown to more than 20 people, and evidence is mounting that the administration did little to prevent or contain the virus’s spread.

The coronavirus outbreak at the White House has now grown to more than 20 people, and evidence is mounting that the administration did little to prevent or contain the virus’s spread. For months, President Donald Trump minimized the threat of the virus and ignored basic safety precautions like wearing a mask or maintaining 6 feet of distance from other people. And at several events last week, White House staff members defied recommendations — from scientists, local authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — on curbing infection, even after the president tested positive. Here is a look at some of the ways Trump and his staff members ignored basic guidelines. — The White House relied too heavily on rapid tests. THE GUIDELINES The Food and Drug Administration approved the rapid coronavirus tests used by the White House for use only “within the first seven days of the onset of symptoms.” These tests frequently miss infections in people without symptoms. The CDC says it may be necessary for those who test negative on a rapid test to confirm the result using a lab-based test, especially if they have symptoms or have been in contact with an infected person. WHAT HAPPENED Since the early days of the pandemic, the White House has regularly used rapid tests to screen staff members and guests for the coronavirus because they are fast, portable and easy to operate. But those who tested negative would often skip other precautions, like wearing a mask or social distancing. Experts say rapid tests are less accurate for people who are not showing any signs of infection, and they should not be used as the only precaution. Testing negative does not guarantee a lack of infection, since people who have been recently infected may not have enough virus in their bodies for tests to detect. Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the president, and Kayleigh McEnany, the press secretary, both tested positive early this week after testing negative in the preceding days. And while officials had given the impression that Trump was getting tested every day, the White House has since conceded that tests were not as frequent and has refused to reveal the last time Trump tested negative. — Members of the administration held meetings indoors, did not wear masks, and failed to maintain recommended social distance. THE GUIDELINES The CDC’s guidelines for preventing the spread of the coronavirus say to remain at least six feet away from people outside your household and to “cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.” The nation’s health protection agency also recommends hosting gatherings outdoors when possible. WHAT HAPPENED The Trump administration allowed those who received a negative result to go without a mask to meetings and events, including at a reception inside the White House for the Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The president also huddled with advisers for maskless preparation sessions ahead of the first presidential debate, held on Sept. 29. Several of those involved — including Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey; Kellyanne Conway, a former White House adviser; Hope Hicks, a current adviser; and Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager — have said they have since tested positive. The president and his staff members also spent several hours in the enclosed space of Air Force One last week traveling to events in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio and New Jersey. At least eight people aboard those flights, including Hicks, McEnany, Miller and Stepien, have since tested positive for the virus. — The White House and Trump campaign hosted large gatherings that flouted state and local restrictions. THE GUIDELINES CDC guidelines say large, in-person gatherings where it is difficult to maintain social distance of at least 6 feet apart pose the “highest risk” of spreading the coronavirus among all types of gatherings and events. This includes both indoor and outdoor events. WHAT HAPPENED The White House and Trump campaign held several large rallies, fundraisers and other events in the week before Trump tested positive. The day after Trump hosted at least 200 people in the Rose Garden, the president hosted a White House reception honoring Gold Star families. At least 100 people attended the indoor event, including Adm. Charles Ray, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, who has since tested positive, prompting many of the country’s top military officials to go into quarantine. A citywide order in Washington prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people, but because the White House is on federal property, it is exempt from local rules. The Trump campaign also held three large outdoor rallies that week in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, three states whose guidelines limit gatherings to 250 people. Officials in Pennsylvania criticized the Trump campaign for flouting local regulations, and the Virginia event also drew scrutiny. — The White House is not tracing contacts of those at a potential ‘super-spreader’ event. THE GUIDELINES The CDC advises contact tracing for close contacts of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are considered probable cases. Contact tracers notify, interview and advise the close contacts of the infected person, and the CDC says close contacts should themselves be tested. WHAT HAPPENED Even though at least 12 attendees have since tested positive, the White House has decided not to trace the contacts of those who attended the Rose Garden event for Barrett. Instead, the White House said it would notify only those who came into contact with Trump in the two days before his positive test on Oct 1. A White House spokesman did say contact tracing “was completed” for Trump’s Oct. 1 trip to Bedminster, New Jersey. One guest confirmed he received three emails alerting him to possible exposure — one from the Trump campaign and two from state and local government tracers — but said no one had called him. — The president and his aides did not quarantine after people near them showed symptoms and tested positive. THE GUIDELINES The CDC says those who have been in “close contact” with someone who tests positive should quarantine for 14 days, starting from two days before the infected person’s illness onset. The White House says it is following CDC guidelines for essential personnel who have come in contact with infected people. WHAT HAPPENED On Sept. 30, Trump flew aboard Air Force One with staff members and members of Congress to Minnesota for a fundraiser and rally. That night, Hicks felt ill and sat apart from others at the back of Air Force One on the way home. Anyone who was in close contact with Hicks in the two days before she started feeling symptoms should have quarantined. Yet despite knowing of Hicks’ illness, Trump and his aides traveled the next day to Bedminster, to a small indoor round table and then a larger outdoor fundraiser. That evening, Bloomberg News reported that Hicks had tested positive, and after midnight, Trump revealed he had also tested positive. Even after Trump and Hicks tested positive, McEnany, who had been in close contact with both of them, continued to go to work. She hosted a news conference while maskless on the White House lawn the day after the president tested positive and went to work that weekend, later saying she acted as an essential worker. On Monday, she said she had tested positive. Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, and Dan Scavino Jr., a deputy chief of staff, have continued to work from the West Wing despite repeated exposure to the president. Both were with Trump at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after he was hospitalized over the weekend and joined the president in the Oval Office on Wednesday, six days after the president’s positive test. — The president failed to isolate after testing positive. THE GUIDELINES Those who test positive for the coronavirus should isolate themselves from others for a minimum of 10 days after testing positive, according to the CDC, or for at least 10 days after symptoms first appear. WHAT HAPPENED Officials say Trump tested positive on Oct. 1. That means he should have isolated until at least Sunday, Oct. 11 — even if he had stopped experiencing symptoms. Instead, Trump, escorted by Secret Service agents, left isolation Sunday for a drive-by to greet supporters, flew to the White House on Marine One on Monday, and reentered the White House without wearing a mask, defying guidance that is intended to protect others. Video footage of the president before he walked into the White House on Monday showed him in proximity to a photographer and several other people.

How the White House flouted basic coronavirus rules

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