Trump Not At Risk Of Coronavirus Exposure Via CPAC: Organizer

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — A person who tested positive for the new coronavirus attended a political action conference in Maryland about a week ago, according to officials.

The Maryland Department of Health is encouraging anyone who attended the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor to take their temperature twice a day. If it exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or if they develop a respiratory illness, they should contact their health care provider and remain at home until getting further instructions, according to state authorities.

On Saturday, the New Jersey Department of Health notified the Maryland Department of Health that a person who tested positive for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, was in Maryland from Feb. 27 to March 1 for the conference.

While attendees at the political conference included President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, the person diagnosed with the illness did not expose them to the new coronavirus, according to the American Conservative Union, which organized the conference.

"This attendee had no interaction with the President or Vice President and never attended events in the main hall," the American Conservative Union said in a statement.

The Conservative Political Action Conference was held from Feb. 26 to Feb. 29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. According to organizers, thousands of activists attended.

"Due to the scale of this conference, we are urging attendees who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to immediately reach out to their health care provider," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Saturday. "We are providing this update not to unnecessarily raise alarm, but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution.”

Anyone who attended or worked at the event is advised to check for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, cold-like sickness, or difficulty breathing.

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Agencies in Maryland are coordinating with federal and local officials as well as those in New Jersey, Hogan said.

“Immediately after learning of this individual’s interactions in our state, we began coordinating with the White House, the CDC and federal officials, the New Jersey Department of Health, Prince George’s County officials, and conference organizers,” Hogan said.

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The new coronavirus was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

It spreads between those closer than 6 feet apart through respiratory droplets when a person who is infected coughs or sneezes and the droplets get into the mouths or noses of others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia, resulting in anything from mild respiratory issues to death.

Maryland health officials recommend hand washing as a way to protect against the spread of viruses in general, including influenza and the new coronavirus.

People should also keep their hands away from their eyes and mouth; stay home when sick; and cough or sneeze into a tissue.

Visit health.maryland.com/coronavirus for information about the new coronavirus in Maryland or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's coronavirus disease situation summary for additional information and resources.