A third elected Democrat announced on Tuesday that he had been tested positive for the coronavirus after being sheltered in a room with other parliamentarians who refused to wear a mask during the assault on the Capitol.
“Unfortunately, I tested positive for COVID-19,” Democrat elected representative in the House of Representatives, Brad Schneider, revealed on Twitter.
“Last Wednesday, after having narrowly escaped a surging crowd incited to attack the Capitol and its occupants by the President of the United States, I had to spend several hours in a secure place, but confined with dozens of other members. of Congress, ”he said.
“Several elected Republicans in the room categorically refused to wear a mask,” he denounced.
Two other Democratic MPs, Pramila Jayapal and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who were confined in the same room in Congress, learned on Monday that they had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Many Republicans persisted in refusing to take minimum precautions against COVID-19 and wear a simple mask in an overcrowded room in the midst of a pandemic, causing a super-propagator event in addition to an attack of domestic terrorism,” said Ms. Jaypal who voluntarily placed himself in quarantine.
“The time spent in the room lasted several hours and several Republicans not only refused to wear a mask, but made fun of colleagues and staff who offered them,” she said in a statement. For her, these deputies have shown “selfish stupidity” and should not return to sit.
Bonnie Watson Coleman, 75, also believes she was exposed during “the security in the Capitol building because of the insurrectional riots” last Wednesday, said a statement from her office.
Congressional physician Brian Monahan warned officials this weekend that they may have been exposed to the virus while in shelter.
A Republican representative, Jake LaTurner, had announced that he had tested positive for the virus Wednesday evening, just after the attack on the Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump who wanted to prevent the certification of the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
The United States is the country most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 377,000 deaths.