Whereas sheltering in a safe location as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, Home lawmakers could have been uncovered to somebody who was contaminated with the coronavirus, Congress’s Workplace of the Attending Doctor mentioned on Sunday.
In an electronic mail despatched to lawmakers, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the attending doctor, mentioned that whereas “the time on this room was a number of hours for some and briefer for others,” throughout that interval, “people could have been uncovered to a different occupant with coronavirus an infection.” He advised lawmakers to acquire a P.C.R. check as a precaution and proceed taking preventive steps in opposition to the unfold of the virus.
Congress has lengthy struggled to stem the unfold of the virus inside its ranks, with combined steering and a delayed testing routine. Dozens of lawmakers, employees members and reporters took shelter within the safe room on Wednesday, however a handful of Republicans refused to put on masks, one particular person there mentioned, whilst Consultant Lisa Blunt Rochester, Democrat of Delaware, tried to move out masks.
Earlier than the mob breached the Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, overseeing the certification of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory and debate over a Republican effort to subvert these leads to sure states, admonished Republicans for having too many individuals on the ground and for some objectors refusing to put on masks as they spoke.
Because the 117th Congress reconvened every week in the past, a number of lawmakers examined constructive for the coronavirus after taking their oath. Late Wednesday, one Republican, Consultant Jake LaTurner of Kansas, obtained constructive check outcomes after voting on the Home ground to overturn Arizona’s outcomes and didn’t return for a second vote early Thursday. It was unclear the place Mr. LaTurner was sheltering in place because the mob tried to interrupt into the Home chamber, however in a press release issued shortly earlier than three a.m. on Thursday, his workplace mentioned he was not experiencing signs.
As a result of lawmakers certified for early entry to the coronavirus vaccine, many have obtained not less than one shot of a two-dose vaccine, with some receiving each doses. Some congressional aides have been approved to obtain the two-dose vaccine.