Politico directed its staff members who attended the Conservative Political Action Conference to self-quarantine themselves after an attendee was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Employees of the news outlet who attended the event were asked to self-quarantine and work remotely for the “duration of the incubation period” out of an “abundance of caution,” according to a memo obtained by the Washington Examiner on Monday. The publication’s management also ordered its cleaning service to “disinfect and sanitize” its office space.
“Like many other news organizations, POLITICO had several employees present at various times during the four day conference,” the memo read. “We are in regular communication with them and are taking all necessary steps to ensure their safety. … Self-quarantine of well individuals who may have been exposed is simply a precautionary measure that helps mitigate spread of the virus and is a step that we will continue moving forward.”
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The identity of the CPAC attendee who tested positive for coronavirus has not been publicly announced, but at least two GOP members of Congress came in contact with that person. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had a brief exchange with the person that lasted “less than a minute” and will self-quarantine himself despite having “no current symptoms,” while Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar spent “an extended period of time and we shook hands several times.”
Both Republicans said they were self-quarantining.
Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, 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. In a tweet, he said the infected attendee did not attend the conference on Saturday, the day Trump gave remarks.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was in “close proximity to the attendee.” Schlapp said he saw Trump wash his hands at the conference.
The coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 globally and has led to more than 3,400 deaths, 22 of which were in the United States.
UPDATE: The Washington Post, the Daily Beast, and Mother Jones have also asked their staffers who attended CPAC to self-quarantine, according to the Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon. Additionally, Fox News and CNN are restricting nonessential travel as a result of the coronavirus, with Fox News adding Purell stands and Clorox wipes throughout its facilities.
