Senate Staffer Tests Positive For Coronavirus, First Case On Capitol Hill

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) listen during a hearing on October 29, 2019. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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A staffer for Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has come down with COVID-19, Cantwell’s office announced late Wednesday night, marking the first case of the coronavirus on Capitol Hill.

“The individual has been isolation since starting to have symptoms,” Cantwell’s office said in a statement. “On the advice of the Attending Physical, the senator has closed her Washington, D.C. office this week for deep cleaning and staff will be teleworking.”

The office stated that the staff member “has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress.”

Several congressional lawmakers have had to self-quarantine after making contact with individuals who later tested positive for the virus, but none of the lawmakers have shown symptoms.

The Capitol is poised to stop all public tours for the rest of the month. Congress has not announced any changes to its legislative schedule as of yet.

President Donald Trump has not declared a state of emergency over the rapidly growing outbreak, reportedly because he fears doing so would disprove his repeated claim that the coronavirus isn’t any more serious than the flu.

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Notable Replies

  1. More surprises incoming…

  2. Denial isn’t just a river with a quarantined cruise ship on it.

  3. I’m still waiting for at what point does #ditchMoscowMitch finally get his stomach full of this nonsense and start convening the usual suspects to encourage a resignation.

    At this point, should things not improve drastically in the next six months, the GOP will be wiped off the face of the map due to this incompetence. Their gravy train is coming to a shrieking halt and no one wants to poke the bear? Sheesh…

  4. Captain Trump: “Yes, you heard me right! I want you to steer toward the iceberg! It’s just ice, for Christ’s sake!”

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