A top Democratic senator said Capitol Hill should be closed to visitors because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate at 86, cited the growing number of cases, breaking with fellow Democrat and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in addressing concerns about the number of constituents from across the country who visit the building daily.
“I’m worried about the fact that we need to close this place down,” Feinstein said. “I really believe that now. Look at us, how close. It’s just an example of what’s happened. The cases have topped 1,000 and here’s where they’re going.”
At least 1,050 people in the United States have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, resulting in 31 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon. In Feinstein and Pelosi’s state of California, there have been 157 infections and two deaths.
Feinstein said she has “constituents by the hundreds that come across the country and I don’t think they should right now.”
Pelosi, 79, rebuffed overtures about closing the Capitol in a closed-door caucus meeting. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler suggested that lawmakers leave to return to their districts.
“We are the captains of the ship. We are the last to leave,” Pelosi said during the meeting.
Globally, more than 120,000 people have been infected, and at least 4,373 have died. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic on Wednesday.
