White House briefing room capacity to be reduced amid COVID-19 surge
Source: The Hill
The White House Correspondents Association (WCHA) on Sunday announced it would temporarily reduce capacity for journalists attending press briefings, citing concerns about a spike in COVID-19 cases as the omicron variant surges nationwide.
The board of the WHCA voted unanimously to return to the reduced seating arrangement that was in place from last summer until earlier this year, with 14 seats out of the 49 in the room being used, association president Steve Portnoy announced in an email to the organization's members.
"Given the virulence of the spread, medical experts have once again advised that it would be prudent to substantially reduce the number of people working in the cramped, poorly ventilated workspace that we share," Portnoy said.
"A primary objective is ensuring we are able to hold the administration accountable to the public, while preventing an outbreak that might limit our ability to cover the president in close quarters," Portnoy said.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/587951-whca-temporarily-limits-briefing-room-capacity-amid-covid-19-surge
The WHCA has for weeks been urging reporters working out of the White House to take a rapid COVID-19 test if possible before coming to the building, and to wear a high-quality mask like an N95.
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