Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson tested positive for the coronavirus Monday morning.
Carson began to experience symptoms of COVID-19 and underwent testing at Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland but has since left the hospital, ABC News reported.
“He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery," Carson’s chief of staff, Coalter Baker, said in a statement.
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The Wall Street Journal reported that Carson was one of more than 100 attendees at an indoor party at the White House on Tuesday night. The party was also attended by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the party, the WSJ said.
A number of high-ranking White House officials, including President Donald Trump, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last month and a half.
Carson’s tenure at HUD has been dotted by critics’ accusations that he was intentionally weakening fair housing practices. A group of housing advocates is suing HUD and Carson to stop a change in department policy surrounding the Fair Housing Act.
President-elect Joe Biden has released an outline of his administration’s ambitious housing goals that include ending redlining “and other discriminatory and unfair practices in the housing market,” expanding the LIHTC program and assistance with rent and homeownership.
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