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The number of Covid-19 cases surrounding United States President Donald Trump has grown to more than 15, with White House senior adviser Stephen Miller the latest staffer to be diagnosed with the virus.

More than three countries combined

In just the span of a few days, more White House officials, Trump aides and Republican Senators tested positive for Covid-19 than all of Taiwan, Vietnam and New Zealand combined.

There are now more recorded cases of Covid-19 in the White House than in New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam combined.

— Nguyen Phuong Linh (@linhpnguyen) October 3, 2020

Rage Against The Machine guitarist, founding member and lifelong activist Tom Morello tweeted the same too.

There are currently more confirmed cases of corona virus in the White House than in New Zealand, Taiwan & Vietnam COMBINED. #SoMuchWinning

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) October 4, 2020

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Taiwan reported three new cases, Vietnam reported one new case, while New Zealand reported three new cases.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Trump's orbit is also more than Singapore's 11 new cases and Thailand's 10 new cases reported on Oct. 6.

Growing list of Covid-19 cases around Trump

According to Axios, here are the people around Trump who have contracted the virus:

• Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel
• White House communications aide Hope Hicks
• Utah Senator Mike Lee
• North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis
• Former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway
• Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien
• Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson
• University of Notre Dame President John Jenkins and three unidentified White House reporters who attended the Rose Garden ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court
• Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
• Director of Oval Office operations Nick Luna
• White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
• Two unidentified White House communications aides
• White House senior adviser Stephen Miller

White House says contact tracing has been done

The White House has told staff in an email on Tuesday, Oct. 6, that it has completed "all contact tracing" for positive Covid-19 cases identified at the White House with assistance from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CNN reported.

However, The New York Times, citing an anonymous White House official familiar with the issue, previously reported that the White House has decided not to conduct contact tracing for those who attended the Rose Garden event.

It has decided instead to inform all those who have come in close contact with Trump in the two days before his Covid-19 diagnosis on Oct. 1.

At least eight people who went for the ceremony have since tested positive for Covid-19.

Trump's physicians have not revealed when Trump tested negative for the last time.

Public health expert speaks out against White House infections

The White House has been criticised by public health experts for not doing enough to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak.

Top U.S. infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci said in an interview with American University's Kennedy Political Union on Oct. 6 that what is happening at the White House is "an unfortunate situation" that could have been prevented.

Fauci has long advocated the wearing of masks to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

Trump has typically shunned masks, and has mocked Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden for wearing masks in public.

At the nationally televised debate held in Cleveland on Sep. 29, he said Biden “could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen”.

Shortly after leaving Walter Reed National military Medical Centre, Trump has also taken off his mask and saluted while posing for pictures.

Previously, while still being treated at the hospital, he made a surprise visit to greet his supporters in a drive-by.

The move has been criticised for risking the health of the Secret Service agents riding in the same vehicle.

White House staffers have also expressed their dismay at Trump's return to the White House after three days at the hospital, with one telling Axios that the move jeopardises his staff's health at a time when they are "still learning of new cases among senior staff".

Prior to leaving the hospital, Trump tweeted that he was "feeling really good" and called on people not to be afraid of Covid-19 and not let it dominate their lives.

I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020

He subsequently compared the death rate of Covid-19 to that of the flu, playing down the impact of the pandemic.

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Top image adapted via Getty Images