STRINGER ISOLATES
Exposed to ‘positive’ rep. in D.C. mayhem
Mayoral contender Scott Stringer is in quarantine after having contact with Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who recently tested positive for COVID.
Espaillat was in the Capitol building when Trump-supporting insurrectionists stormed in and ransacked it for hours last week, leading to President Trump’s second impeachment and the possibility that the siege could end up becoming a superspreader event.
Stringer, the city’s comptroller, appeared at an event with Espaillat last Friday and is planning to remain in quarantine until Sunday, according to the latest COVID guidelines.
“On the evening of Friday, January 8, Comptroller Stringer was at an outdoor socially distanced event with Congressman Espaillat,” Stringer’s campaign spokesman Tyrone Stevens said.
“After learning that the congressman tested positive for COVID-19 this week and consulting with doctors, Comptroller Stringer is following quarantine guidelines out of an abundance of caution. He is currently asymptomatic and feeling well.”
Stringer learned of Espaillat’s positive test result Thursday morning, Stevens said.
The quarantine comes as the race to replace Mayor de Blasio is heating up and potentially throws a monkey wrench into the gears of a political campaign where every day counts.
On Thursday, Stringer’s quarantine led to him to cancel two events.
Espaillat tested positive for coronavirus after delivering a speech Wednesday on the House floor in support of Trump’s impeachment.
The upper Manhattan Democrat revealed his diagnosis in a tweet Thursday and said he’s “quarantining at home.”
“I will continue my duties representing New York’s 13th congressional district remotely until I have received clearance from my doctor,” the 66-year-old congressman wrote. “I encourage all residents to follow public health guidelines for the safety of our #NY13 community.”
Like most members of Congress, Espaillat has received the coronavirus vaccine.
In his tweet, Espaillat said he received the second and final booster dose of the vaccine last week, but doctors told him it could take some time before the inoculation takes effect.
The congressman said he tested positive Wednesday night, which would mean the results came back within hours of stepping off the House floor after the impeachment debate.
Espaillat was on the floor during Wednesday’s tense impeachment debate, delivering seething remarks in favor of removing Trump from office for instigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead, including a police officer.
“He is unfit to hold office,” Espaillat said at the top of his voice during the debate, wearing a white face mask. “We must impeach now.”
Espaillat is at least the fourth member of Congress to contract COVID-19 after scores lawmakers were forced to evacuate into fortified parts of the Capitol when the pro-Trump mob stormed the building last Wednesday.
In addition to the impeachment debate, Espaillat attended a press conference at City Hall in Manhattan last weekend with Mayor de Blasio and other members of New York’s congressional delegation to push for Trump’s removal from office.
In another tweet after announcing his diagnosis, Espaillat urged his constituents and colleagues on Capitol Hill to keep abiding by coronavirus restrictions, as the pandemic continues to kill thousands of Americans each day.
“Please prioritize social distancing from one another — even if that inconveniences you and takes time away from other items on your busy schedules — and #WearAMask,” he wrote.
Espaillat said he is not experiencing any symptoms at the moment, adding that he’s been tested every day this week, and all other results came back negative.