The outbreak in the West Wing continued to spread on Monday as Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, and two of her deputies tested positive for the virus, heightening fears that more cases were still to come.
Ms. McEnany said she had tested negative several times, “including every day since Thursday,” but health experts said she may have been infectious for days — including when she spoke briefly to reporters without a mask outside the White House on Sunday.
Two more members of the press team, Karoline Leavitt and Chad Gilmartin, who is Ms. McEnany’s relative, also tested positive but learned about their statuses before Ms. McEnany, according to two people familiar with the diagnoses.
The three infected aides join a growing list of people around the president who have tested positive, including Melania Trump, the first lady; Hope Hicks, a senior adviser; Nicholas Luna, the director of Oval Office Operations; Bill Stepien, the president’s campaign manager; Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee; Kellyanne Conway, the president’s former counselor; former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, the president’s debate coach; and at least three White House reporters and two members of the residence staff.
The culture of the White House under Mr. Trump is not to talk about the coronavirus tests. When he received his own initial positive result on a rapid test last Thursday shortly after returning from Bedminster, N.J., he wanted it kept quiet, according to people close to him. Likewise, the two members of the residential staff who tested positive a few weeks ago were advised by colleagues to “use discretion” in discussing it, people familiar with the conversations said.
Those staff members were part of the housekeeping team and work on the third floor of the residence. Residence staff at the White House typically work there over many years across multiple administrations for modest wages and often cannot afford to take time off.
Vice President Mike Pence, who tested negative on Sunday, was scheduled to travel to Utah ahead of Wednesday night’s vice-presidential debate. Mr. Pence also plans to attend campaign events in Arizona and Florida this week before stopping in his home state, Indiana, to vote early.