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‘She recklessly endangered lives’: Backlash as Kayleigh McEnany tests positive for coronavirus after briefing media without mask

Watch: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tests positive for COVID-19

Members of the White House press pool have immediately reacted to the news of press secretary Kayleigh McEnany testing positive after she spoke to the media on Sunday without wearing a mask.

“Kayleigh McEnany has repeatedly spoken to reporters without a mask on. She has recklessly endangered lives,” New York Magazine’s Olivia tweeted mere minutes after the news broke.

CNN’s Jim Acost shared an image of Ms McEnany’ speaking to the press outdoors briefly on Sunday without a mask on.

In a video of the press event, Ms McEnany was seen approaching reporters with a mask on. She then took off her mask once she reached the microphones to answer questions.

Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for Covid-19, just one day after speaking to press without a mask (AP)
Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for Covid-19, just one day after speaking to press without a mask (AP)

It was reported by NBC’s Peter Alexander that the press secretary also spoke to the press on Friday without wearing a mask.

The press secretary testing positive for Covid-19 highlights the false sense of security a negative coronavirus test can give a person after they are exposed to the novel virus.

It was announced on Thursday that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19.

Since then, Ms McEnany and other members of Mr Trump's inner circle, like Vice President Mike Pence, have received negative coronavirus tests. But Ms McEnany said in a statement that her test on Monday morning showed she had the novel virus.

More follows …

Watch: Trump arrives at White House, removes mask immediately