Vice President Mike Pence, joined by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, speaks to reporters Friday, March 6, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

The White House was taking the temperatures of reporters entering the press briefing today by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

That’s probably a smart idea to limit any possible exposure to them.

In the process, they picked up one person who they didn’t recognize who had a fever. The man was tested three times over a period of fifteen minutes and was over 100 each time.

NEW: The White House is taking the temperatures of people before entry to press briefings.

A journalist was denied entry after their temperature was above the CDC guidelines of 100.4 degrees.

They were checked 3 times over span of 15 minutes; all came back high.

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) March 14, 2020

This is the journalist turned away from the White House press briefing for having a fever.

He’s from the outlet CGTN—an English language channel that is Chinese owned. pic.twitter.com/lyEbWTU5qn

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) March 14, 2020

It’s not just “Chinese owned,” it’s Chinese government controlled.

What is he even doing there at all, let alone with a fever?

CGTN claimed that he was running to make the briefing and that’s why he registered higher.

Twitter has taken over but I’ve checked this out with colleagues. His temperature was higher, though not in the fever range, because he was running to make the briefing. I have been informed his recent temperature readings at home were 96.8 and 96.5. Thanks all @cgtnamerica

— nathanking (@nathanking) March 14, 2020

This directly contradicts the events laid out by the White House. There were 3 recordings over the span of 15 minutes, all over 100.4:https://t.co/22mHjXujzg

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) March 14, 2020

He is taking regular readings all around 96.5 – I understand that these readings are also being communicated to the White House and our management.

— nathanking (@nathanking) March 14, 2020

So, forgive me if I don’t take that on face value. If they took it after 15 minutes, it should have come down. Even if his story is correct and varying from 100 to 96.5, that might be indicative of a problem.

Small throwback to what CGTN was encouraging Italians to do in early February.

That was February 4. Italy is now the leading infected area in Europe.