WH: Journalists Who Attend Briefings Must Be Tested

Politico reports:

The White House will conduct coronavirus tests on all journalists slated to attend Thursday’s coronavirus task force briefing as a precautionary measure, the White House Correspondents’ Association announced.

“This is happening today in light of the news yesterday that a member of the White House press corps who was at the White House on Tuesday is experiencing symptoms consistent with coronavirus,” said the organization’s President Jonathan Karl, adding that the journalist’s coronavirus test results were expected later in the day.

The new measures Thursday come after Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, warned Wednesday that the nation’s capital could be among the next hot spots for the disease.

Journalists wanting access to @realDonaldTrump‘s briefings will need to pass a test.

A coronavirus test.https://t.co/nFRMx2ysBC

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 9, 2020