The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
COVID-19 disclosure causing an uproar
Democrats pounce on GOP lawmaker who made infection public after quarantine
The revelation Wednesday that a Republican state House member had tested positive for coronavirus — news Democrats weren’t informed about for a week — has caused a stir in Harrisburg.
The House GOP released a statement Wednesday from Rep. Andrew Lewis stating that he had tested positive for COVID-19 on May 20, after providing a sample on May 18.
The Dauphin County legislator was last in the Capitol on May 14, according to the statement. He self-isolated and anyone he was in contact with was notified.
He has recovered and come out of quarantine, saying he was lucky to only suffer moderate symptoms.
News of his positive test elicited swift and fierce backlash from Democrats when it broke in media reports Wednesday.
“While we are pleased to learn that this House member seems to have recovered, it is simply unacceptable that some House Republicans knew about this for more than a week and sat on that knowledge,” Democratic leader Rep. Frank Dermody said in a statement released Wednesday evening. “Knowing how House members and staff work closely together at the Capitol, we should have been made aware of this much sooner. We should not have learned of it from a media report.
“In the last two weeks alone, there were six days of voting session here at the Capitol and more than 15 separate meetings of House committees voting on dozens of bills. For those members who journeyed to the Capitol in person, each of these meetings raises the risk of possible exposure.”
Raw emotions
Rep. Brian Sims, a Philadelphia Democrat, in an impassioned, angry, profanity-laced video posted to Facebook, called for a full investigation by the state’s attorney general.
And the Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued a statement on its Twitter page saying Republicans are putting people in danger.
“Rep. Andrew Lewis tested positive for #COVID19 on May 20th — the same day he cast a reckless vote to force PA open,” the tweet said. “He didn’t tell Democratic colleagues he may have exposed them until a week later. Harrisburg Republicans endanger every worker, even those in their own workplace.”
Votes were taken by video link.
In a message posted to Facebook, Lewis said he immediately reported his positive test to the Republican Caucus’ human resources department.
“We worked together and followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s workplace exposure guidelines to determine exactly who I may have been in contact with, and who I may have possibly exposed to the virus,” Lewis’ message read. “I can confirm every member or staff member who met the criteria for exposure was immediately contacted and required to self-isolate for 14 days from their date of possible exposure.”
It has been reported that several Republican House members began self-isolating before news of Lewis’ positive coronavirus test was made widely known.
Measured reaction
While not nearly as livid as his Democratic colleague Sims, Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone said he was disap