‘Abundance of caution’: Several lawmakers self-quarantine out of fear of contact with coronavirus
WASHINGTON – Several lawmakers have self-quarantined in some capacity, or vowed to stay away from the U.S. Capitol, after coming into contact with individuals who are testing positive for coronavirus.
Most lawmakers who have self-quarantined, so far, came into contact with a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland last week who has tested positive for the virus.
Both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attended CPAC, but the group said the man, a New Jersey resident, was exposed to the virus before the conference, where he “had no interaction with the President or Vice President.” The White House said Saturday that there was no indication Pence or Trump had been in “close proximity” to the man.
Some of the lawmakers who have self-quarantined have had interactions with the President since CPAC.
The lawmakers have said that they are not experiencing any symptoms, thus far.
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Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some people don’t have any symptoms at all. The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people also develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
Symptoms may appear anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure, with the average patient seeing onset at around five days, according to the CDC.
Congressman Mark Meadows
The North Carolina Republican’s spokesman said Monday night that the Meadows is also self-isolating after being advised this past weekend that he may have come in contact with the individual at C-PAC.
The statement also includes that Meadows was tested for coronavirus “out of an abundance of caution,” despite “experiencing zero symptoms.”
However, he’ll remain home “until the 14 day period expires this Wednesday.”
Trump announced Friday that Meadows would be his new chief of staff.
Congressman Matt Gaetz
The Florida Republican announced he was self-quarantining Monday after he was informed that he “came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19.”
Gaetz “had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor,” the statement continued, referring to when he wore a gas mask on the House floor while the chamber voted on a coronavirus funding bill.
He stated Sunday, before the announcement of his self-quarantine, that that move “was quite serious.”
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
The California Democrat is the first lawmaker to cite contact with COVID19 not through CPAC, as she did not attend the conservative conference.
She said in a statement Monday that, “Yesterday, I was informed that an individual I met with last week in DC tested positive for COVID-19. I am told that individual is self-quarantining and has informed local public health officials.”
She continued that while doctors have said “the risk of exposure to me and my staff is considered very low,” that because of the “significant number” of individuals she comes into contact with everyday, “My staff and I are working remotely to continue to serve the residents of Ventura County, and my district offices in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard remain open.”
She continued that they are “self-monitoring and maintaining social distancing practices.”
Congressman Doug Collins
The Georgia Republican announced Monday that he will self-quarantine for two weeks due to contact with the person who tested positive at CPAC.
“This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19,” Collins tweeted. “While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.”
Congressman Paul Gosar
Gosar, an Arizona Republican, said Sunday he was with the “individual for an extended period of time, and we shook hands several times.” He said while he was not experiencing any symptoms, he along with three senior members of his office staff would be self-quarantining themselves.
Gosar said he would also close his Washington office “out of an abundance of caution.”
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He later tweeted: “Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does.”
Senator Ted Cruz
The Texas Republican said in a statement Sunday that he shook hands with the CPAC individual, and had a brief conversation.
“I am not experiencing any symptoms and I feel fine and healthy,” Cruz said, explaining that the interaction lasted “less than a minute” and medical professionals he’s consulted have told him the “odds of transmission from the other individual to me were extremely low.”
“Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, and because of how frequently I interact with my constituents as a part of my job and to give everyone peace of mind, I have decided to remain at my home in Texas this week, until a full 14 days have passed since the CPAC interaction,” he continued.
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Contributing: Christal Hayes, Grace Hauck