Two congressmen test positive for coronavirus, others are in self-quarantine

Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have become the first members of Congress to test positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

On Wednesday, both Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, and Utah Democrat Ben McAdams announced they were in self-quarantine after testing positive.

At least 10 other members of Congress also announced on Wednesday and Thursday that they were in self-quarantine as a precaution because of exposure to people who have tested positive, many of whom had contact with Diaz-Balart and McAdams.

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, announced earlier in the week that he was in self-quarantine “because I came into contact last week with a Coloradan who later tested positive for #COVID19.”

On Wednesday night, a spokesman for Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who had been in self-quarantine after having flu-like symptoms, said McDaniel tested negative for COVID-19.

President Donald Trump‘s outgoing chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, was in self-isolation in South Carolina as of Tuesday after having contact with his niece, whose results of a coronavirus test were pending.

Diaz-Balart said in a statement, “I want everyone to know that I am feeling much better.”

“However, it is important that everyone take this extremely seriously and follow [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines in order to avoid getting sick and mitigate the spread of this virus,” Diaz-Balart said.

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/19/coronavirus-tests-2-congressmen-positive-others-quarantine.html