Reps. Doug Collins (R-GA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) became the third and forth member of Congress to announce Monday afternoon separately that both will be “self quarantine” as a precautionary measure after sustaining contact with a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) who tested positive with Coronavirus.
“This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for coronavirus,” Collins said in a statement on Twitter. “While I feel completely healthy and I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine at my home for the remainder of the 14-day period out of an abundance of caution.”
“I will follow the recommendations of the House Physician and my office will provide updates as appropriate,” he added.
This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19.
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 9, 2020
While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
Full statement → pic.twitter.com/74oeaYOBYR
“Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19,” Gaetz’s office tweeted shortly after Collins announcement.
Congressman 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.https://t.co/zb6P9bmHK7
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020
Our Washington office will be closed during this time, with our Pensacola office remaining open.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 9, 2020
On Saturday, the American Conservative Union (ACU) said a person who attended CPAC in the end of February was later discovered to have tested positive for Coronavirus. The group said the person had been exposed to the virus before attending the conference and was tested for the disease in a New Jersey hospital, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed as positive.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the first lawmaker to announce on Sunday said he had a “brief conversation” and shook the hand of the CPAC attendee.
“Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19. That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake,” Cruz said in a statement. “I’m not experiencing any symptoms, and I feel fine and healthy.”
He added that “medical authorities have advised me that the odds of transmission from the other individual to me were extremely low.”
Shortly after, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) said he and several of members of his senior staff are “officially under self-quarantine” after sustaining contact with the infected CPAC attendee.
Both Gosar and Cruz separately announced they would remain at home in their home state under quarantine.
CoronavirusCPACCPAC 2020Rep. Doug CollinsRep. Matt GaetzRep. Paul GosarSen. Ted Cruz
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