70-Year-Old Lawmaker Isolated During US Capitol Riot Tests Positive for COVID-19

"Seemed to be isolated in one place to avoid protesters"
Some lawmakers refused to wear masks at the time... "Concerns about mass infection"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that a 70-year-old member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who was isolated during the Capitol riot by fervent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, has tested positive for COVID-19. Concerns about a cluster infection are growing as it is believed that the infection occurred during the process of isolating evacuees, including members who were not wearing masks, in one place.

According to CNN on the 11th (local time), Democratic Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (75), who was isolated with fellow lawmakers in the congressional hearing room during the Capitol riot, announced that she tested positive for COVID-19 on that day. Representative Coleman stated on Twitter, "After evacuating with some colleagues who refused to wear masks, I decided to get tested for COVID-19, and the test result came back positive." Coleman's office explained in a statement, "We believe Representative Coleman was exposed to COVID-19 when the Capitol was isolated due to the riot," adding, "As many news reports have indicated, many people in the evacuation area ignored mask-wearing instructions."

Earlier, Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the Capitol, raised concerns that members might have been collectively exposed to an infected person during the urgent situation when lawmakers were quarantined in a specific location, potentially leading to infection. Additionally, it has been reported that six Republican House members and some others refused requests from fellow lawmakers to wear masks and remained maskless during the Capitol riot, prompting warnings that the Capitol could become a hotspot for cluster infections.

According to CNN, Dr. Monahan expressed concerns about cluster infections in an email sent to congressional members, stating, "During the Capitol riot, many members were quarantined in the room where the hearing was held," and "Some people were isolated in that room for several hours." He further recommended, "As a preventive measure, congressional members are advised to get tested for COVID-19."

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