Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett tested negative on Friday for the coronavirus, according to the White House. The information came soon after news broke in the wee hours Friday morning that both Donald Trump and Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus.
Barrett had been in close proximity to Trump over the past week, particularly on Saturday as Trump announced her nomination to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A White House spokesperson said Barrett has been "following CDC guidance and best practices" regarding the coronavirus, including distancing, wearing face masks, and frequent hand-washing. But not much of that caution has been evident in pictures of her making the rounds on Capitol Hill with everyone from Vice President Mike Pence and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to roughly 30 Republican senators. In multiple pictures taken during Barrett's meetings with GOP senators such as Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Joni Ernst of Iowa, David Perdue of Georgia, and John Cornyn of Texas, some distancing has been on display, but not mask-wearing—at least not during the photo shoots. Barrett has not met with any Democratic senators.
Republicans, however, are eager to move forward with Barrett's confirmation process. Despite the fact that GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly downplayed the prospect of passing another coronavirus relief bill, he signaled Friday that his effort to jam Barrett’s confirmation through was "full steam ahead."
In the meantime, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien has urged any staffers who came in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus—like say, Trump—to self-quarantine. The incubation period for the virus is about two to 14 days, but the average incubation period from infection to onset of symptoms is approximately five to seven days.