Washington, October 9: A US-based news website has apologised for inadvertently publishing a draft article claiming US Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Apparently, Deadline has kept a copy ready if Mike Pence contracts COVID-19. Someone at Deadline published the draft copy despite the fact it had clear instructions that it should not go online without confirmation. Kayleigh McEnany Tests COVID-19 Positive, White House Press Secretary to Go Under Quarantine.

"A draft post of a story about Vice President Mike Pence testing positive for coronavirus that was never meant to publish was accidentally posted on Deadline. It was pulled down immediately," Deadline said in a statement. "It never should have been posted and Deadline will take steps to see this kind of thing never happens again. Apologies to the Vice President and our readers. We regret the error," the portal added. US Vice Presidential Debate 2020: Giant Black Fly Sits Atop Mike Pence’s White Head, Steals Show at VP Debate..

Screenshots of the now-deleted article claiming Mike Pence has COVID-19 went viral on social media. The draft copy contained a disclaimer in the headline, written in capital letters, saying "DO NOT PUBLISH UNTIL THE NEWS CROSSES".

Deadline Draft Article Gets Published Claiming Mike Pence Has Coronavirus:

"Vice President Mike Pence Tests Positive for Coronavirus 8 Days After Donald Trump," the latter part of the headline read, with the opening sentence claiming, "The two most powerful men in America now have coronavirus." Deadline not only published the article with false information, but they also shared it on their official Twitter handle.

Deadline Tweets Fake News About Mike Pence:

US President Donald Trump was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre last Friday after tests the previous day had shown him positive for COVID-19. Trump was hospitalized for three days before returning to the White House this Monday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2020 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).