WASHINGTON DC (REUTERS, AFP) – Organisers of the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, said an attendee of its annual Washington-area conference last month has tested positive for the coronavirus.

“A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result,” said a statement by the American Conservative Union, the host of the event.

The conference was attended by numerous high-profile conservative political figures, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the US response to the novel coronavirus.

The organiser said the affected person had “no interaction” with Trump or Pence and did not attend events in the conference’s main hall.

The conference took place from Feb 26 to 29 in Fort Washington, Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia.

Other prominent speakers at the conference this year included Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner.

“The Trump administration is aware of the situation, and we will continue regular communication with all appropriate government officials,” the American Conservative Union’s statement said.

Asked about the development later on Saturday, Trump told reporters in Florida he was not concerned and planned to continue to hold political rallies.

News of the case came a day after the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in an email that two people who attended its conference in Washington held from March 1-3 had tested positive for the virus.

The influential pro-Israel lobby group told attendees, speakers and congressional offices in the email that the infected pair had travelled from New York to head to the event, which was attended by Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and dozens of lawmakers.

Aipac circulated a statement later Friday it attributed to Washington health authorities saying no immediate risk to attendees had been identified.

Related Stories: 

Have a question on the coronavirus outbreak? E-mail us at [email protected]

To get alerts and updates, follow us on Telegram.

Source: Read Full Article