House fights refusal to wear masks as three Dems test positive
WASHINGTON — Within a span of about 24 hours, three House Democrats announced that they had tested positive for COVID-19, prompting concern that last week’s insurrection at the Capitol has also turned into a superspreader event threatening the health of lawmakers and their staffs.
Those who tested positive were among dozens of lawmakers who were whisked to a secure location when pro-trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Some members of Congress huddled for hours in the large room, while others were there for a shorter period.
It’s not certain where and when lawmakers caught the illness, but the Capitol’s attending physician notified all House lawmakers of possible virus exposure and urged them to be tested.
Dr. Brian Moynihan said members who were in protective isolation last Wednesday “may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.”
The three Democratic lawmakers directed their anger toward some House Republicans who were also in the secure room and declined opportunities to wear masks despite the role masks have in blocking the spread of COVID-19. Video surfaced of multiple Republican lawmakers refusing to wear a mask even when one was offered.
“Today, I am now in strict isolation, worried that I have risked my wife’s health and angry at the selfishness and arrogance of the anti-maskers who put their own contempt and disregard for decency ahead of the health and safety of their colleagues and our staff,” Rep. Brad Schneider, D-ill., said Tuesday.
Schneider’s comments came a few hours after similar remarks from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-wash.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey said Monday that she had tested positive for COVID-19.
Within hours of their announcements, Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-mich., and Anthony Brown, D-MD., introduced legislation that would impose a $1,000 fine on any member of Congress refusing to wear a mask on Capitol grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A senior House Democratic aide said the House will also consider a rule Tuesday night that includes a fine system for noncompliance with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s mask requirement on the House floor.