Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.
Confirmed first to ABC News by his Deputy Chief of Staff Coalter Baker, Carson was tested at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Carson reportedly has already left the hospital after a short stay.
“He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery,” Baker said in a statement to ABC News.
It’s not yet confirmed when or how Carson contracted the coronavirus, but news agencies have reported that the retired neurosurgeon had attended multiple Trump campaign events without a mask. Recent events include a late-October rally in Michigan, and an election night party at the White House in which most attendees were not wearing a mask.
The election night event was also attended by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who was one of at least five White House staffers that tested positive for coronavirus last week. Meadows reportedly continued to work around others without a mask last week, after receiving a positive test.
Affordable Housing Online will continue to monitor Carson’s health as news comes out about his recovery.