Texas (WBAP/KLIF) – Six Republican U.S. lawmakers have been told that they came into contact with a coronavirus-infected person at annual CPAC event in Maryland last month; 5 of them have self quarantined; 2 of them also had contact with President Trump, and one of them has decided not to isolate himself.
Lawmakers who have isolated themselves include: Senator Ted Cruz of Texas Rep. Doug Collins, (pictured right) of Georgia, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and the incoming White House Chief of Staff, Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina.
Meantime, in a statement Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert (pictured below left) said that after a discussion over the weekend with a CDC physician about his contact with the infected patient, and the fact that he himself was asymptomatic, he was cleared to return to Washington.
Gohmert said, “No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precaution.”
Gohmert’s full statement:
“Saturday night, I got a call from the House physician advising that I had possibly been exposed to the COVID-19 virus at CPAC on February 27th, and that a top CDC physician in Atlanta would call me to discuss what should be done going forward.
After CDC physician called me Sunday evening, and we discussed all the specific circumstance of which he was aware along with my circumstances, including that I was and am asymptomatic, he said that all things considered, I was cleared to return to Washington.
He said he would return if he were me and advised that my staff and I should just be careful to observe proper hygiene protocols.
I took the advice of the expert and returned to work. No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions.”
The White House insists President Donald Trump doesn’t need a coronavirus test, despite several members of his political circle self-quarantining after they came into contact with a man later diagnosed with the disease.
Last week, Rep. Matt Gaetz was seen on the House floor wearing a gas mask in reaction to the coronavirus epidemic. Some said that he was ‘mocking’ the fears of the virus. Days later, a constituent in his district died from the virus.
Gaetz, in a tweet, denied that he had made light of the situation.
The threat to Congress is real, as I explained based on travel and habits like selfies and handshakes.”
Trish Regan: Liberals are politicizing COVID19 to hurt the president.
Matt Gaetz: pic.twitter.com/M4vvqWJt0s
— Opinion Lady (@OpinionMaven) March 10, 2020
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from KETK-TV.)
