More than 130 agents from the Secret Service are currently in quarantine after either testing positive for COVID-19 or having close contact with infected colleagues, as reported by The Daily Observer. This situation has arisen partly from a series of campaign rallies held in the weeks leading up to the election. Approximately ten percent of the agency’s core security personnel are sidelined, which is largely attributed to these events.
The Secret Service has around 1,300 personnel in its Uniformed Division tasked with protecting the White House and the Vice President’s residence. Recently, the former president made campaign stops in multiple states, necessitating the deployment of several groups of Secret Service agents to accompany him. At these rallies, it has been noted that mask-wearing was not enforced.
In addition to the agents, notable figures such as Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and advisors Alex Johnson and David Smith have also tested positive. The outbreak coincides with a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, with over 153,400 new infections reported in just one day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Despite claims from some, including the former president, that increased testing is the reason for rising cases, the data indicates otherwise. The seven-day average for new tests has indeed risen, but the increase in cases is significantly outpacing it—over 32 percent in just one week.
A former senior Secret Service official commented, “Having more than 100 officers unavailable is a major concern for the security of the White House.” This isn’t the first instance where the Secret Service has been impacted by the travel decisions of the former president and Vice President Pence during the pandemic; earlier this year, numerous agents were forced to quarantine after events in Tulsa and Arizona.
Research has shown a significant number of COVID-19 cases linked to rallies held by the former president. The CDC warns that large gatherings without proper health measures pose a substantial risk for outbreaks, calling such events potential “superspreaders.” In light of this, it is reassuring to note that a new President-Elect has already established a Coronavirus Task Force consisting of scientists to address the ongoing crisis.
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In summary, over 130 Secret Service agents are quarantining due to COVID-19, significantly affecting the agency’s core security team. This situation has arisen amid a national surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting concerns over security protocols and the implications of large gatherings during the pandemic.
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