Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany latest staffer to contract Covid-19

Positive test result came a day after she briefed reporters on Sunday evening

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Reuters

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says she has tested positive for coronavirus, only days after her boss President Donald Trump contracted the disease and was moved to a hospital for treatment.

Ms McEnany said that she tested positive on Monday morning and was experiencing no symptoms.

In a statement, she said she was beginning the quarantine process and “will continue working on behalf of the American people remotely”.

Ms McEnany spoke briefly with reporters on Sunday evening without wearing a mask, but said that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time near her to be considered close contacts.

She is one of a growing number of White House staff and senior Republicans who have tested positive for the virus since the president tweeted out that he and wife Melania tested positive on Friday.

Adviser to the president Hope Hicks tested positive for the disease before Mr Trump, on Thursday.

Then followed Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Senators Ron Johnson, Thom Tillis and Mike Lee, Governor Chris Christie and Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien. Former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and Mr Trump's assistant Nicholas Luna have also tested positive. Most of those in Mr Trump's circle to have had the virus attended an event at the White House on September 26.

Ms McEnany will be leaving the White House to self isolate, but Mr Trump may well be returning.

White House officials say he is anxious to be released from Walter Reed Medical Centre after a three-night stay.

“This is an important day as the president continues to improve and is ready to get back to a normal work schedule,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News on Monday.

Mr Meadows says the determination on whether Trump would leave the hospital won’t be made until later in the day after the president is evaluated by his medical team.

His doctors revealed on Sunday that Trump’s blood oxygen level dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick.