Vice President Mike Pence said he has not been tested for coronavirus despite attending a conservative political conference during which several lawmakers interacted with an individual who has tested positive – and promised reporters he would find out if Donald Trump has been tested after interacting with politicians now in self-quarantine.

"I've had no recommendation that I be tested," the VP said. Last week, his spokeswoman denied a report that he shook hands with a Florida student who was in a quarantine situation.

Mr Pence promised to have the White House's medical office state clearly whether the president has been tested after interacting with GOP Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as GOP Congressmen Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar and Doug Collins – all are self-quarantining after interacting with that infected person at a conference outside Washington.

Mr Trump also attended that conference, shaking hands with the sponsor's chairman, who has admitted to interacting with the infected person. What's more, the president shook hands with Mr Collins in Atlanta on Friday and then was joined by the lawmaker during a tour of CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Mr Gaetz was in the president's car on Monday and even flew to Washington on Air Force One, where he learned he, too, interacted with the infected person from the conference.

In a surreal development, Mr Collins then self-quarantined on Air Force One.

Mr Trump left the briefing room without answering shouted questions about whether he has been tested.