More than two dozen legislators in Mississippi tested positive for coronavirus in connection to an outbreak inside the state Capitol.
In total, 36 people traced their coronavirus infection back to the Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi, including 26 lawmakers. The outbreak prompted Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, to advise the people of Mississippi to get tested for the coronavirus if they were in contact with any members of the state legislature.
Among those who tested positive were the leaders of both chambers of the legislature: House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who is president of the state Senate. Rep. Sam Mims, the chairman of the House Public Health Committee, also tested positive.
According to a report from the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, many of the lawmakers had refused to wear masks while working inside the Capitol, ignoring the advice of public health officials. Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr., a Democrat who tested positive for the coronavirus, acknowledged that he and others failed to wear their masks full time.
“I can honestly say that I wore my mask 95% of the time when I was around the Capitol and public places, but that 5% can make a big difference. The mask that I normally wore was a type of sponge mask. It was a nice looking mask, but probably not the safest. I’m sharing all of this to hopefully educate and put a familiar face with the issue at hand,” Crudup wrote in a post to Facebook.
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, an officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, said 290 people had been tested after spending time at the Capitol. He said the state has been monitoring the situation.
