Yesterday, we reported that a person attending the CPAC conference in Maryland last week has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a statement released last night by Republican Senator Ted Cruz (TX), he is self-quarantining after shaking hands with the person who attended CPAC that has since tested positive for coronavirus.
Only moments ago, we reported that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who learned while he was flying on Air Force One with President Trump from Orlando to Washington DC, that he was also in contact with the coronavirus victim at CPAC.
Congressman Matt Gaetz says he is self-quarantining after attending the CPAC conference near Washington, D.C., where a person later tested positive for #coronavirus. Gaetz rode on Air Force One today following a trip to Florida. Live updates: https://t.co/54Fh7oepkO pic.twitter.com/66SjCZrYXP
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 9, 2020
The Hill is now reporting that Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) on Monday announced that he would self-quarantine at his home after coming into contact with a person who later tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Collins is among five members of Congress to disclose that they’re taking the precautionary measure. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) separately said on Sunday that they would self-quarantine until 14 days had passed since interacting with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland.
Gosar said that he and three members of his staff were with the individual “for an extended period of time, and we shook hands several times.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said he would self-quarantine after learning he came into contact with the same individual. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) said that she and her staff would work remotely after learning that she had interacted with a person in Washington, D.C., who tested positive for the virus.
The video below shows Rep. Doug Collins shaking President Trump’s hand on Friday, after he landed in Georgia to meet with the CDC to discuss the coronavirus.
Video from Friday shows President Trump shaking hands with Rep. Doug Collins, who just confirmed that he is self-quarantined after coming into contact with someone recently diagnosed with coronavirus https://t.co/ArWlKp4pIj pic.twitter.com/2wHIlDLOST
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 9, 2020
Rep. Doug Collins tweeted a statement about his self-quarantine that was posted on Twitter on moments ago:
“This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for coronavirus.”
“While I feel completely healthy and I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine at my home for the remainder of the 14-day period out of an abundance of caution,”
Collins said he would follow the White House Physician recommendations and would provide updates as appropriate.
This afternoon, I was notified by CPAC that they discovered a photo of myself and the patient who has tested positive for #COVID19.
While I am not experiencing any symptoms, I have decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
Full statement → pic.twitter.com/74oeaYOBYR
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 9, 2020