An Australian official, who was recently pictured with President Donald Trump’s daughter and senior political adviser IvankaTrump and Attorney General William Barr, has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Australia's minister for home affairs Peter Dutton released a statement saying that he was diagnosed with the COVID-19, according to USA Today. Durron is now hospitalized and in isolation.
Dutton visited Washington for the Five Eyes security pact. It is an intelligence alliance composed of the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
In his statement, Peter Dutton said that he was “with a temperature and sore throat” upon waking up on Friday morning, according to CNN. He “subsequently tested for COV-19” and the test returned positive by Friday afternoon.
During his U.S. trip, Dutton had met with Ivanka Trump, Attorney General William Barr, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and Director of the Domestic Policy Council Joe Grogan. This happened less than a week ago.
In a statement on Friday, the Department of Justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said that Barr is “feeling great and not showing any symptoms” of the virus. “He is staying home today and has consulted with CDC. CDC is not recommending he be tested at this point.”
According to Dutton, “anyone who tests positive is to be admitted into hospital and I have complied with their advice,” referring to a Queensland Health policy. “I feel fine and will provide an update in due course,” he added.
The coronavirus has affected dozens of government officials across the globe. For instance, Fabio Wajngarten, a senior adviser to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus.
Wajngarten is Bolsonaro’s communications secretary and was among the group who met with President Donald Trump on March 7. He also posted a photo showing him standing next to the POTUS as his Mar-A-Lago resort. President Trump said that he is not concerned about getting tested.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also tested positive for coronavirus. Mr. Trudeau is said to be currently in self-isolation.
“I leave that to the president,” Anthony Fauci, one of the U.S.’s top experts on infectious disease said. Fauci was responding to a question on whether or not President Donald Trump should also be tested for the virus.