Senior State Department official tested positive for Covid-19 after Europe trip, official says

[Eugene]

Original reporting: Senior Trump official tests positive for coronavirus after trip to Europe (Washington Post)

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Source: CNN

Senior State Department official tested positive for Covid-19 after Europe trip, official says

By Kylie Atwood
Updated 2255 GMT (0655 HKT) October 27, 2020

(CNN) — A senior Trump administration official recently tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a diplomatic trip to Europe, according to a State Department official familiar with the matter.

Peter Berkowitz, the director of policy planning at the State Department, tested positive for the virus after the recent trip to France, the United Kingdom and Hungary, the official said.

He tested negative before the trip and tested positive after he returned. It's unclear exactly when he contracted the virus, the official said. Berkowitz and the person who traveled with him from the State Department have not gone into the department since returning from the trip, the official said.

The Washington Post was first to report that Berkowitz contracted the virus.

There were concerns about the purpose of Berkowitz's visit, given the pandemic, before he departed, the official said. There were also complaints from European officials about Berkowitz not following Covid-19 protocol the entire time, the official added.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/27/politics/peter-berkowitz-covid-19-positive/index.html

[Rorey]

1. SO irresponsible

I'm interested in hearing about the purpose of his visit. Perhaps he just wanted a European vacation.

It's 2020. We're in a pandemic. What possible reason could he have to make an in-person visit instead of telecommunication?

[Eugene]

2. Diplomatic trip with high level contacts, including 10 Downing St.

Trump official who visited No 10 and governments across Europe tests positive for coronavirus (The Independent)

According to an official, there were concerns about Peter Berkowitz not following Covid-19 protocol during foreign visits. The state department has denied the allegations

A senior Trump administration official has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a diplomatic trip to Europe that saw high-level talks in the UK, France and other countries.

-snip-

An unnamed official told the newspaper that Mr Berkowitz was inconsistent in following Covid-19 protocols during the trip.

-snip-

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-official-coronavirus-peter-berkowitz-europe-uk-tests-positive-b1387838.html

[Rorey]

3. Yeah, I read that

Doesn't change my opinion that it was irresponsible.

[rso]

4. Covid

He’s a political appointee, not a career officer. A career foreign service Officer would not be so reckless.