Rep. Paul Gosar spent an extended period of time with a Conservative Political Action Conference attendee who later tested positive for coronavirus, and he is taking steps to stop the possible spread of the illness.
The Arizona Republican announced on Sunday night that he and three senior members of his staff will be self-quarantined for fourteen days.
“I have been informed that during the CPAC conference members of my staff and I came into contact with an individual who has since tested positive for, and is hospitalized for, COVID-19. I was with the individual for an extended period of time, and we shook hands several times,” he said in a statement.
My statement on #COVID19: pic.twitter.com/dyuq55fnBG
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) March 9, 2020
Gosar went on to explain that neither he nor the members of his staff who were also exposed are showing symptoms, but he added that he will remain in his Arizona home until the quarantine period is over. Gosar also said his office in Washington, D.C., will be closed for the week.
The congressman became the second known member of Congress to come into contact with the virus carrier. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had a brief exchange with the victim that lasted “less than a minute” and will also self-quarantine himself despite having “no current symptoms.”
Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, has also said he had an interaction with the person who tested positive for coronavirus. He appeared on stage with President Trump on the final day of the conference and shook his hand, but he later said the infected attendee did not attend the conference the day Trump gave remarks.
The coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 globally and has led to more than 3,400 deaths, with more than a dozen deaths happening in the United States.
