Coronavirus spreads further in Trump's inner circle as White House aide Stephen Miller tests positive

White House senior advisor Stephen Miller has tested postiive for coronavirus
REUTERS

Coronavirus has spread further among those in Donald Trump’s inner circle, with White House adviser Stephen Miller and top military officials becoming infected.

Mr Miller, who has been self-isolating for the past five days, confirmed on Tuesday that he had contracted the disease.

The top military leaders in the US have also gone into quarantine after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for coronavirus, the Pentagon said.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and the vice chairman, General John Hyten, were among those affected, US officials said.

Military leaders who were in contact with Admiral Charles W. Ray, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, were told on Monday evening that he had tested positive.

US President Trump returned to the White House on Monday after three nights in a military hospital, urging Americans not to be afraid and not to let the coronavirus dominate their lives.

The pandemic has killed more the 210,000 people in the United States, more than any other country.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Brian Morgenstern told CNN late on Tuesday that there were no new COVID cases in the White House beside Mr Miller.

Mr Trump said on Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Others announcing they had tested positive in recent days include close Trump adviser Hope Hicks, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany, Mr Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien, and Republican Senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson.

Mr Miller's wife, Katie Miller, who is a spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence, tested positive for the virus in May.

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