More than 130 Secret Service Agents Infected with Coronavirus

[Larissa]

Back in May, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the "one thing this virus has that's really different from so many other viruses . . . it has phenomenal capability and efficiency in spreading from person to person. This is a virus that spreads as easily as any virus that I've ever known, apart from maybe measles."


https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/13/the-latest-u-s-airport-screenings-caught-only-9-coronavirus-cases-out-of-766000-travelers/

More than 130 Secret Service officers who help protect the White House and the president when he travels have recently been ordered to isolate or quarantine because they tested positive for the coronavirus or had close contact with infected co-workers, according to three people familiar with agency staffing.

The spread of the coronavirus — which has sidelined roughly 10 percent of the agency’s core security team — is believed to be partly linked to a series of campaign rallies that President Trump held in the weeks before the Nov. 3 election, according to the people, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the situation.

The outbreak comes as coronavirus cases have been rapidly rising across the nation, with more than 152,000 new cases reported Thursday.

The virus is having a dramatic impact on the Secret Service’s presidential security unit at the same time that growing numbers of prominent Trump campaign allies and White House officials have fallen ill in the wake of campaign events, where many attendees did not wear masks.

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WaPo link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-coronavirus-outbreak/2020/11/13/610eebcc-2539-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html?itid=hp-banner-main

[gratuitous]

1. I'm sure the President is suitably moved by their sacrifice

Link here

Trump’s Condolence Call to Soldier’s Widow Ignites an Imbroglio

By Mark Landler and Yamiche Alcindor
Oct. 18, 2017

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s condolence call to the widow of a slain soldier exploded into a vicious row that swamped the White House on Wednesday, with the soldier’s grieving mother accusing the president of disrespecting her family and a defiant Mr. Trump complaining that his words had been cynically twisted for political purposes.

The back-and-forth made a furious spectacle of what is, at the best of times, one of the most emotionally wrenching contacts between the commander in chief and a bereaved citizen. It overshadowed any talk of Mr. Trump’s legislative priorities and instead recalled his history of feuding with military families or even, as in the case of Senator John McCain, a war hero.

Twelve days after four Americans were killed in an Oct. 4 ambush in Niger, the president called the widow of Sgt. La David T. Johnson, who was among the slain, and said that her husband “knew what he signed up for,” referring to the soldier only as “your guy,” according to Sergeant Johnson’s mother and a Democratic congresswoman, who both listened to the call.

Mr. Trump angrily disputed that account, insisting that he “had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife, who sounded like a lovely woman.” The White House accused the congresswoman, Frederica S. Wilson of Florida, of politicizing a sacred ritual after Mr. Trump initially said she “fabricated” it.

[PJMcK]

2. Here's what I'd love to see but it'll never happen

It would be fascinating if a retired Secret Service Agent were to write an anonymous book about their experiences with different presidents. Image the stories they could tell!

I suspect that most presidents and their families treat the agents with great respect and gratitude for the safety they provide. However, I just know-- without any evidence!-- that the Trumps treat their protectors like they were the hired help. The Trumps are not gracious people. Just imagine the perspective they could shine on different episodes of Trump's presidency.

It will probably never happen because these agents keep their mouths shut.

By the way, the reason that all those agents tested positive is because of Trump's stupidity and ignorance about the virus. They must be pissed!

[empedocles]

5. trump Covid

[empedocles]

3. About 10% of the workforce and rising?

[Sneederbunk]

4. Therefore, fewer attendees at SSA going away party for Trump.